Dealing with everyday life these days is supposed to be easier than it used to be. We have so much around us that is automated, can set up payments to take care of our monthly bills, and ovens clean themselves. We can use our phones to control things in our home while we’re out. To get from place to place we don’t even need to call a taxi anymore, just book it with an app. Pretty sweet, huh?
Of course, the result of all of this has been less a case of making life easier, and more creating space for all the things we could ignore before. And somehow, during all of the time we’ve freed up, we still tend not to find time to look after our health. At least not in the way we should. So many of us have habit of zoning in on one thing and ignoring our overall health – but feeling fit top-to-toe is essential in a busy world.
Many of us will go to a doctor if we’re dealing with obvious symptoms like cramps or a cough. We sometimes ignore other issues, though, because we think that’s just how we are. Getting check-ups and talking things through might be more important than we think.
Looking After Your … Eyes
As kids, we are routinely taken for eye tests to make sure that we get any help we need with reading. The older we get, the more a lot of us get lazy about looking after our eyes. This is so counter-intuitive, as we don’t need to be facing retirement to suffer age-related degeneration. See an optician at least every two years, period. See one immediately if you’re finding that you have to squint to read. Vision issues can bring a lot of other, unpleasant symptoms with them.
Looking After Your … Teeth
If visiting the optician is something we are glad to escape when we leave childhood behind, it’s nothing compared to the dentist. There’s a reason dentists provide stickers and lollipops for kids. Even as an adult, it’s an uncomfortable experience. However, you still need to brush, floss and wash and get yourself to a dentist regularly – about twice a year. As well as fixing dental problems, they can also spot other health issues early on.
Looking After Your … Mind
Attitudes to mental health can vary from person to person. Some people are happy to talk about issues that they have had, from depression to anxiety. Others view this as a highly personal issue, while still others deem mental health to be “all in the mind”.
For the avoidance of doubt, depression is not something you “snap out of”, nor can people with anxiety “just stop worrying”. If you’re dealing with a higher than usual level of these issues, or if you’re finding that focus and concentration are elusive, see a doctor. Left unchecked, these issues can build into very damaging stress levels.
Our health is a holistic thing. If we let our teeth get bad, it can affect us way beyond what’s in our mouths and even our heads. If our eyes deteriorate, carrying on regardless can develop into pain and other problems. And if we let stress go unchecked, as we all know, that can be the worst health issue of all. So make sure you’re healthy all round.
