Everyone wants to live a happy, rewarding, meaningful and purposeful life. While most of these aspects mainly depend on your mental health, they often begin with the physical health achieved by stewarding the gifts and capabilities God has given us.
According to the scripture, our bodies are gifts from God and are created in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). He may not be calling for perfect physical health, but there is a unique need to take care of yourself and avoid polluting or wasting the precious gift given to you that will one day be made glorious.
What Are 4 Ways You Can Optimize Your Physical Health?
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Get regular exercise
- Get quality sleep
- Manage stress
Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and was bought with a price. Care for your body relies on proper nutrition, adequate rest, hydration and exercise. These positive habits also pave the way for spiritual, social, emotional and general wellness.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
A healthy and balanced diet is key to a healthy body and mind. You can add the necessary amount of
vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, amino acids, vitamins and other vital nutrients to your diet to proactively care for your bodily systems.
You should also drink adequate water to stay hydrated – preferably about 48-64 ounces per day, depending on how active you are, the amount of water you get from food, the environment and so forth.
Get Regular Exercise
A balanced diet is crucial but is only half the battle for physical health. It should be coupled with regular exercise for complete effectiveness. According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, about 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week can significantly improve your general health and physical fitness. Regular exercise comes with many benefits, such as improving cognitive function, self-esteem, confidence, quality sleep, stress management and weight management.
Get Enough Quality Sleep
You probably know that an adult is supposed to get at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day,
but how many of us really manage to do that? Due to the increased responsibilities and stressors that we face every day, it is challenging to hit this sleep recommendation regularly, but the fact is that sleep is directly linked to various facets that determine our overall physical health.
Poor sleep may lead to mood swings, delayed reactions, reduced cognition and more severe effects such as obesity, depression, poor heart health, diabetes and higher blood pressure in the long run. To ensure quality sleep, The Sleep Foundation recommends things like,
- Limiting the amount of light in your bedroom
- Maintaining a comfortable temperature
- Avoiding electronics just before bed
- Wearing comfortable sleeping clothes
Stress Management
Mental and physical well-being are deeply connected; one issue can drastically affect the other. That is especially true if you don't deal with the problems in a timely manner.
When your anxiety or stress level rises, whether, from physical or mental difficulties, you need to look for effective stress management techniques, including stress-releasing prayers. You can also listen to music, take a walk, read interesting journals, or talk to someone to keep stress from weighing on your quality of life.
How Can Liberty HealthShare Help?
At Liberty HealthShare, we believe your health is vital to a rich life and stewardship as a believer.
We are neither a health insurance company nor do we function like one. We are a non-profit Christian membership-based organization aimed at facilitating voluntary sharing among our members to meet each other's medical bills. Contact us today to learn how we can help you save on healthcare costs.
