One of the biggest stereotypes out there is that men do not know how to take care of themselves properly. However, as much as we might want to take offense to this, the fact is that the numbers back this up. From our mental health to our heart health, men are statistically worse for ignoring issues until they become serious problems. This cliché becomes more worrying as we get older. When we are in our 20s, we can get away with letting good healthy habits slide because our bodies are more capable of bouncing back. As we head into our thirties and beyond, we all need to get more proactive when it comes to self-care.
The good news is that it can be easier than you think to start making healthier choices. What’s more, it can be a lot easier in the summer when there is better weather and more hours of daylight. Now is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and to start getting serious about your personal health care. If you feel like you could be doing more to look after yourself, or if you want to get out in front of any potential issues that have been worrying you, here are a few tips to help you get started.
Stop Ignoring Pain
This point is particularly aimed at people who feel like they just do not have enough time in the day to deal with those aches and pains that we all get. It is so easy to tell ourselves that an issue will just go away after a while when we are stressed and burned out. However, as we get older, the chances of that being true get even smaller than they already were. We also need to remember that our bodies are often trying to warn us about a bigger problem when they start acting up. If you are the kind of person who will ignore a persistent headache or tell yourself that chest pain is just heartburn, you need to adjust your attitude. Make an appointment with your doctor and talk to them about any issues that are bothering you. It is also worth remembering that living with pain does not accomplish anything other than putting yourself through a lot of discomforts.
Remember That Your Mental Health Is Important
There has always been a stigma around mental health. It is true that we have all learned a lot about this over the last couple of years, and we have seen the news reports that have shown that so many people out there have been dealing with mental health issues. However, there are still a lot of us out there who feel like admitting that they need help is somehow shameful.
The simple truth is that looking after your mental health is just as important as ensuring that you are eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercises. We all feel depressed or anxious every now and again, and seeking professional help is nothing to be ashamed of. Studies have shown that BIPOC mental health is an area where much more awareness is needed, and much more work needs to be done to remove the stigma around talking about it. There are also additional barriers to people in BIPOC communities getting the mental health they need, which range from a potential language barrier to provider bias and a lack of cultural understanding. Talkiatry provides personal mental health care and flexible treatment options to find a solution that works for you. Do not suffer in silence.
Start Making Changes To Your Diet
The summer is always a great time to start making changes to your diet. With warmer, sunnier weather we are less inclined to indulge in our high sugar, high-fat comfort foods. This is also the time of year when it is much easier to find fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season. If you have wanted to eat healthier, remember that a great place to start is to find recipes that you actually want to eat. Look at easy swaps that you can make for the less healthy foods that you enjoy, such as switching sugary snacks for fresh fruit and replacing crunchy chips with raw vegetables or nuts.
You should also think about brushing up on your home cooking skills. You are much less likely to indulge in unhealthy takeout food if you make a meal plan at the start of the week and write yourself a detailed shopping list to make sure that you have all of the ingredients that you need. Keeping your cupboards and fridge well-stocked will help to keep temptation at bay.
Get Into An Exercise Routine
One of the biggest issues for men is our heart health. Indeed, heart disease is the leading cause of death in men in the United States. While making the diet changes listed above will go a long way towards reducing your cholesterol and easing the pressure on your ticker, you also need to make sure that you are getting enough exercise. Now, one of the biggest mistakes that a lot of people make is setting themselves an unrealistic target. If you try to go too hard too quickly, you will struggle to meet your goals and you may end up suffering an injury. Be honest with yourself about your current fitness level and what you are capable of.
Then, look at your daily schedule and think about how much time you have in the day to dedicate to exercise. See if you can carve out an hour, or even just half an hour, before work in the morning for a jog or a bike ride. What you need to remember is that is about getting into good habits, not about getting a bit more exercise for a week or two and then going back to the old way of doing things. If you are not sure where to get started, think about talking to a personal trainer. You could also reach out to friends and family and see if there is anyone who wants to join you on this journey.
