Making Wellness Personal
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME BASIC
TENETS EVERY ONE CAN FOLLOW that
will lead to better health, the best way to
achieve optimum wellness is to make it personal.
Take an honest look at the unhealthy
aspects of your lifestyle, and then make
proactive changes that will maximize your
health and well-being.
To do so, ask yourself the following questions; then provide honest answers.
Q. Have I made self-care a priority? Self-care is about the choices you make every day that promote better health. It encompasses the foods you eat, the amount of exercise you get, and the habits that either help or harm your health, such as taking prescription medications as directed or maintaining an unhealthy weight.
If you determine self-care hasn’t been one of your primary concerns, consider this: According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, apart from genetics, 90 percent of your risk of developing the three major killer diseases—heart disease, cancer, and stroke—is well within your control and can be reduced if you make healthy lifestyle choices.
Q. Am I proactively responding to my family health history? While there are risk factors you can’t change—your family history or age—the ones you can change can have a significant impact on whether you develop conditions that run in your family. Ask your doctor to help you identify your health risks and suggest ways to change them.
Q. Could I improve my diet? The best way to get a clear picture of your diet is to keep a food diary for a week or so listing what and how much you eat or drink.
When your diary is complete, analyze it with a critical eye toward patterns of lessthan- healthy choices. When you find areas of concern, consider healthier alternatives, such as substituting side salads for onion rings at lunch.
Q. Am I getting enough exercise? In the long term, regular physical activity can reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, depression, and premature death. In the short term, it can help you sleep better, manage stress, and have more energy.
The American Heart Association suggests adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.
Q. Am I getting enough rest? You may not be getting enough sleep if you have concentration and memory problems or feel tired much of the time. Getting to bed earlier and cutting back on caffeine, late dinners, and alcohol can improve your rest.
Achieving good health and remaining healthy is an active process and can’t be found in a pill, but in making healthpromoting choices every day.
To learn more: Family Doctor, www.familydoctor.org, select a topic under “Healthy Living”
