Our health is the most important thing we have, this is a simple and honest fact. Without good health, we will find it hard to achieve the goals we dream of achieving or experience the things we wish to experience. If we want to get more out of life, we need to make sure we are taking care of ourselves in every way possible, including both our mental and physical well-being.
The problem is we often forgo taking care of ourselves in the pursuits of other activities and focuses. How often have you neglected yourself because it was more important that you do something else? Without meaning to, we become short-term focused and fail to see the future problems with our actions. This is something we are all guilty of and should strive to be better at.
So, what can we do to take better care of ourselves? Of course, the answer is a multi-step process, but the vital first step is identifying our problem areas. These will be different for everyone; one person may be very good at visiting the doctor for coughs and colds but keep putting off their trip to the opticians, another may exercise regularly but never sleep more than six hours a night.
This article will look at some consistent areas of neglect in our daily lives to help highlight some of the oversights you may be making. Therefore, let’s look at four common health mistakes that we all make.
1. Not sleeping enough
Our bodies need rest to recover, rebuild and grow. Yet, a surprising number of people will brag about how they can operate with only a few hours of sleep. The issue is, even if they can operate, they are only achieving the bare minimum and therefore are missing out on the numerous benefits of a good night’s rest. Of course, this is generally down to a busy schedule, but you should always make sure you have enough time to sleep. This goes double for those who work out often. While exercise is indeed essential for the body, as we will get to later, your body needs a full rest to repair afterwards. The bottom line is, don’t skip your sleep and get eight hours or more a night!
2. Not Getting your eyesight tested
Our eyes deserve a lot more attention than we give them. The sunlight can be harsh to them, and the amount of time we spend staring at screens has been shown to damage them. Yet so many of us will continue to put off an eye test. Even if you do not notice any problems, if you spend time outside or staring at screens, then you may need some new glasses. The other common mistake here is not updating your prescription once you have glasses. Your eyes are muscles that are continually changing, so get them checked out, and if you currently have glasses get some advice on selecting the right lens coating.
3. Trying a healthy lifestyle without a healthy mindset
No one actively chooses to live an unhealthy lifestyle; it is the result of poor decisions and circumstances. Everybody wishes they could be a little healthier than what they are and usually try to remedy that by exercising more or eating better. While these are significant decisions, they do not address the root cause of the problem. The root of the problem lies in how our brains make decisions. Without a healthy mindset, the chances of giving up our goals of living a healthy increase. For example, you may find yourself planning a healthier diet, but without the correct mindset, you will be tempted to cheat or reward yourself as if eating healthier is something you are forcing yourself to do. For more information on healthy perspectives, you can check out a previous article.
4. Under or Over-exercising
Exercise is vital for living a healthy lifestyle, but as with almost everything, it is best in moderation. Too little exercise leads to a sedimentary lifestyle. Driving to and from work is usually the most comfortable option, but if you spend all day at a desk moving very little, then you are adding more sitting hours to the day. If this sounds like you, then you need to make an effort to move more and take extra opportunities for exercise. On the opposite end of the scale are those who exercise too much. Too much high-intensity activity, in particular, can cause strains and injuries that can become persistent and overall worse for your long-term health. So make sure you balance your exercise correctly.
Those are some of the most common mistakes we make, but of course, there are others. Once you know yours, you will be able to start improving yourself.