We’ve come across the saying “Health is wealth” very often. According to the WHO, health means a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not only depicting the absence of disease.
This state of health can be attained by practicing healthful activities such as regular physical exercises, getting adequate sleep, being spiritually and mentally well, eating a well-balanced diet, etc.
Whenever we come across the word health, we get reminded about exercising and eating green vegetables. But health doesn’t comprise only of physical health, there’s more than what it seems.
If we keep focusing on physical health, how can we exactly maintain this state of being healthy in this advancing world?
Six components of health!
There are six main aspects of health namely, physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual.
Physical health
Even though a lot of people define health using this component, it only plays a small role. Physical health comprises good strength, flexibility, digestive and cardiovascular health, etc. It is the component that helps us to get through the day and move through the world.
Regular exercises, proper nutrition, a proper sleep schedule, and avoiding harmful habits are a few of the main methods by which one can attain peak physical health.
Ditching habits that cause harm to us like smoking, drinking, etc. should be avoided at all costs. Try to get adequate amount of sleep. Sleep is the only time of the day when the body takes rest after all the tiring activities you would have done throughout the day.
By sleeping for less number of hours, the person might experience reduced cognition and frequent mood shifts. Lack of sleep has also been linked with a higher risk, of certain diseases and conditions.
Emotional health
This aspect of health is very crucial and complex. This component comprises the health of our mind, our feelings, our thoughts, etc. This emotional health can be well managed by practicing self-care, learning to set boundaries and say “no” when you feel uncomfortable, having a to-do list, being able to convey what you exactly feel without hiding behind a smile, etc.
Some other habits like journaling, listening to music, and reading a good book could also help you with your emotional well-being.
Always be aware of your emotions. Try to know what makes you sad, uncomfortable, frustrated, and angry. Having a sense of knowing what exactly you want or what exactly is happening in your head indicates that, you are emotionally healthy.
Expressing your feelings in appropriate ways to the people you feel comfortable with is also one of the main factors of emotional health. Let people know when something is bothering you. This would eradicate the feeling of loneliness, and hopelessness which serve as the main things that drain your mental health.
Social health
This component of health includes all the social interactions/relationships we maintain. This includes your family, your friends, your colleagues, your better halves, etc. Human beings are social animals.
If a particular relationship is draining your mental energy, have a self-check about it. Having a healthy relationship with the key people in your life tends to impact your mental and physical health.
See to it that the same person doesn’t stab you twice in the back. At the same time make sure that the mistakes you have done aren’t repeated again. Go on a hike with your friend and try to meet new people from all walks of life.
Introverts might have a little trouble with social interaction, but the point to be remembered here is that you don’t have to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. People who want to interact with you will interact with you no matter whether you are an introvert or an extrovert.
Spiritual health
Spirituality and religiousness might not be the same. Some people might find spiritual peace within religion. Spiritual health is different for everyone as everyone have different belief systems.
No matter which kind of belief system one follows, the most important thing here is that you have to take some time to pause and clear your mind. This can be done by meditation, praying, etc. Spiritual health can also be found in the form of finding a sense of purpose and finding a true sense of passion.
Intellectual health
Once you stop learning, you start dying
Albert Einstein
Our minds are designed in a way where we are supposed to constantly learn something new and continuously improve. This component of health makes us think critically as we move forward in life. Learning comes in many ways, in books, classes, interacting with people, etc.
Whatever we fill our minds with, it might create an impact later in our life. Fuel your mind with positivity every day! Try to be open to new ideas.
Always possess a growth mindset and always remind yourself that you are capable of doing and being anything! Set short-term goals and see to it that you accomplish them. Create a routine of self-assessment and reflection. Look at opportunities and challenges as the roads to growth and development.
Is everything messed up?
A few years ago, my family doctor prescribed me to take 3 sets of tablets once every day for three consecutive days when I had a high fever. Yesterday when my brother went to the same doctor, she prescribed 4 sets of tablets, be taken twice a day for five consecutive days.
Fever is a response of the body where something out of the ordinary is happening in your body due to the entering of some foreign particles. Did we really need that many tablets? Most of them weren’t even relevant to the symptoms of the fever.
When we are under some immense amount of stress, we tend to let our emotions take over our intelligence. Sometimes when we take a step back and think about it, it would be something that isn’t that significant.
When it comes to the field of medicine and the matter of our close ones’ lives, our intelligence tends to get overpowered by our emotions which are mostly taken advantage of.
Nature has everything we need as the universe was created that way. When the universe knows how to make you catch a cold or get a fever, the universe also knows how to fix it.
So, let’s take an oath to accept the helping hand of nature and be hale and healthy in all the above-mentioned components!
Happy Reading !
