BALANCE IS KEY TO A HEALTHY LIFE
You know that feeling when you want to hit the gym after work but always end up in your bed — tiringly asleep? Or want to prepare a healthy dinner but just too exhausted to even think about it? With a hectic work schedule which can sometimes be a little too demanding, how do you manage and still find time for yourself ?
“The short and simplest answer is work-life balance,” says Max Fardan, a Dubai-based fitness enthusiast and breast cancer survivor. “After I survived my breast cancer diagnosis, I’ve learned to value and take my health seriously. That’s when I knew I had to be physically active and live a consistent healthy lifestyle.” He added.
Max was diagnosed with breast
cancer, an illness more common in women, when he was 24. According to World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of women each year and affecting countries at all levels of modernization.
Max was lucky to have survived this illness and therefore advocates that we, regardless of gender, start living and maintaining a balanced and healthier lifestyle. Here, he listed down 10 useful tips to help you get started:
DESTRESS
Living a healthy lifestyle is not limited to just being physically fit and active, it also means having a stress-free life as much as you can. Because when stress becomes too much for you to handle, it wears you down both physically and mentally. Try to destress and do something that relaxes your body and mind at least once a week — a soothing spa maybe?
EAT HEALTHIER
Fruits and vegetables are not just for kids. In fact, World Health Organisation recommends eating fruits and veggies as a regular part of your diet to help fight diseases and illnesses. A little trick: try drinking a mixed fruit and veggie smoothie to make it a little more interesting.
MOVE IT
Exercising is equally just as important as eating healthy. If treadmills and dumbbells don’t excite you, try an alternative — it can be dancing, yoga, hiking or even karate.
DRINK UP
Now it’s time to drink up and stay hydrated. By drinking the recommended 64 ounces of water a day, you’re not just flushing out toxins from your body, you’re actually saving a lot of money too as water helps improve your overall health.
MENTAL HEALTH
Being in tip-top condition means being healthy in mind and body. You should always consider your thinking, mood, behaviour and feelings. If something keeps on bothering you, take immediate action. The easiest way is to let go of the things that troubles and burdens you. Think positive, learn to say no and take a break.
MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
As what most people say — you don’t need hundreds of friends, you just need a few who you can really count on. Try to keep your circle small. If the relationship becomes too toxic, let go without second thoughts. This will help you maintain healthy relationships and focus your energy on the people who really care about you.
GET CHECKED
No matter how consistent you are with your healthy-lifestyle journey, you still need professional advice. Make it a habit to have yourself checked with a professional doctor at least once a year.
QUIT NOW
If drinking and smoking is your thing, then I have a bad news for you: Quit now, while you still can. These vices are known to be addictive, so before you actually reach that stage, help yourself and stay away.
SLEEP
Sleep. Yes, sleep. People tend to forget the importance of getting enough rest and try to over-work and exhaust our bodies. This is the case for most of us. Like computers, we need to reboot to refresh our systems too.
START NOW
Probably the most important tip is to start today. Because no matter how many tips you know, if you don’t actually start doing and putting it to heart, it will just be a waste. As Maxwell Maltz said, “It takes 21 days to form a new habit.” One down today, 20 more days to go. – lifestyle@timesofoman.com