Getting Healthier this Summer without Breaking a Sweat

by | Jun 22, 2016 | Self-Care, Wellness Plan, Wellness Tips & Information

 

Summer is here, and that usually means hot, sticky weather. Want to jump start your personal wellness plan but the idea of  doing cardio activities that work up up sweat just doesn’t appeal to you? There’s good news for you!  Diet and exercise are only one part of improving your personal wellness.  Having a healthy fit body does have health benefits, but it’s also important to address mental, emotional, social, and spiritual wellness.

These 3 simple wellness tips offer big health benefits without breaking a sweat.  Sometimes doing relatively simple things offers big health benefits.  These simple acts can help you  build momentum and enthusiasm to do some of the wellness activities you might have dreaded in the past.

No Sweat Wellness Ideas

1) Medical Self-care: Learning to recognize, prevent, or manage health issues on your own is an important part of self-care and wellness promotion.  Learning basic information about what is and isn’t a medical emergency, when to go to a doctor, and when and how to take care of basic illnesses and injuries yourself can provide peace of mind and personal empowerment.   It can also potentially help avoid unnecessary visits to the doctor.

Ask your doctor’s office for patient education material about   managing common issues such as fevers, headaches, burns, or stomach aches.  The American Red Cross also offers first aid classes to teach how to manage basic injuries.

2) Pay attention to your mental health: Having a healthy mind is just as important as having a healthy body. The mind and body interact on many levels.   Health issues in one can create health issues in the other.  Recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses like depression or addiction is as important as recognizing the signs and symptoms of heart attack or stroke.  It’s also important to learn how certain physical illnesses relate to mental illness and vice-versa.

Certain symptoms like sleep problems, irritability, low energy, alcohol or substance misuse, or even certain physical ailments can indicate an underlying mental health issues.  Contact your doctor if you have concerns about your mental well-being, you want to learn more about monitoring your own mental health, or you want suggestions for boosting your own mental wellness.

3) Get still at least once a day: Whether you meditate, write in a journal, or simply take a few deep breaths, quieting your mind and body on a regular basis boosts personal wellness. From stress reduction to better sleep, or healthier  blood pressure, getting still can enhance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.

Who said improving personal wellness had to be hard? Now you know you can get started without breaking a sweat!

Be well.

 

 

 

© 2016, Dr. Donna L. Hamilton

Donna Hamilton, MD, MS, FAAP
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