Even during a pandemic, how busy we are seems to define our lives. But you should never be too busy to take care of yourself. While prioritizing your health can be difficult, it’s absolutely worth it. Read on to discover some of the challenges busy men and women face when getting healthy, some unusual ways to get fit, and how eating affects your overall wellness, not just your waistline.
Busy Men and Women Have Different Needs
Men and women’s bodies work differently. One of the biggest differences between men’s and women’s diets is the need for calcium. Young women need much more calcium to build up their bone mass as they grow. That’s because women can lose bone mass during their later years. Menstruation causes women to lose iron, so you need more of that as well.
Women also differ from men when it comes to health risks. Although more men suffer from alcoholism and heart disease, both hurt women disproportionately. Women also are at a higher risk of osteoarthritis, stress, and mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Then there’s the dreaded UTI which most women get at least once in their lifetime. There’s also pregnancy and its aftereffects. The changes brought by carrying and giving birth to a child are tremendous, which is why postpartum depression is a real problem for women.
Aside from the differences in men and women, people who work in different industries also have different needs. For example, those who work in technical, scientific, and professional industries often describe their health as “very good” or “excellent,” while those who work in the residential care or nursing industry are typically more unhealthy. As such, people who work in industries that are typically more unhealthy need to pay more attention to their bodies and their overall wellness.
Unusual Ways to Stay Fit
Your physical fitness and activity level depend on a lot of factors. In addition to how busy you are, your age, weight, and health limitations are the obvious ones. But what you’re interested in and how social you are can also impact how and when you fit in fitness.
In other words, not everyone has the time, physical ability, or interest to complete a group HIIT workout or run a 5k every day. Furthermore, doing the same workout day in and day out can be boring! In addition to hitting the gym, here are some fun and unusual ways you can improve your wellness by mixing it up:
● Dancing (any kind, including pole dancing)
● Fencing and sword fighting
● Hiking (instead of just walking around the neighborhood)
● Roughhousing with your kids
● Yoga
● Parkour (done safely, of course)
● Changing jobs to something less sedentary
● Cleaning the house
● Geocaching
You Still Have to Eat Well
Chances are you already know how to eat well. Namely, focus on fruits and vegetables, eat lean protein, and drink lots of water. But when you’re busy, it can be difficult to follow those rules. Here are some tips to make nourishing yourself well more convenient.
Invest in your health by spending a little extra for convenience. This may mean something as simple as paying the extra for pre-cut and pre-washed fruits and veggies that are easy to grab on your way out the door. Or, if you like to cook but don’t have time to shop, consider signing up for a meal delivery service or getting your groceries delivered directly to your door. This will free up more of your time to focus on eating well.
You also want to limit your intake of sugary foods (especially soda), alcohol, and high-fat dairy products. You can make healthier choices by taking good-for-you snacks and a refillable bottle of water with you everywhere you go. That includes your purse, your office, and your car, especially if you spend a lot of time commuting or running family errands. If you’ve spent your whole day being healthy, it can be easier to say no to that bedtime snack or evening nightcap.
Start Gradually, But Get Started
Like with any major life change, the path to wellness is a gradual one. Don’t try to make major changes overnight. That’s a recipe for burnout and relapse. Instead, start by adding one of the unusual exercises listed above to your life. Try others to find one that works for you. Then start making small but real changes to your diet. Combined together, you can finally get on the road to improving your overall wellness.
If you are looking for support as you pursue a better life, Path to Hope Counseling can help. Please contact us online or via phone at 984-500-2021 today!
