The Value of Health

Hey everyone!

I'd like to share about something that has been on my heart these last weeks; the value of health.

What value do you put on your health? On a scale of 1-10? Be honest.

If you didn't answer 10, why isn't your number higher? Maybe you feel like you don't have time to excercise or cook wholesome food? Or can't afford a gym membership or healthy ingredients?

Yet what would your life look like if you didn't have your health? Why do we take our health for granted until it's too late? Whatever happened to prevention being better than a cure?

Without our health, we aren't left with much. We lose our freedom of movement, we lose our quality of life, we can lose our friends and family, and even our life. Why then, do we take our health for granted?

With pharmaceuticals being so readily available in today's society, all we want to do is find the next "bandaid" or quick fix. We only want to cure our symptoms, not the cause of the symptoms.

And don't get me wrong, I've been there. I've taken my health for granted. I've assumed that because I'm young and healthy, I'm always going to be so. It took something completely unrelated for me to take a look at my choices around my health. Then, once I implemented some small changes to my lifestyle, I was blown away by the difference in how I felt! I wouldn't have said I felt unhealthy; but because I didn't value it as I should, the more conscious I become, and the more changes I make, the better I feel!

Prevention is better than a cure. We need to give our bodies the things it needs in order to thrive, not just survive. Sure, we'll survive if we eat junk food, but our bodies can't thrive in that situation. Sure, we'll survive if we are stressed or emotionally unwell, but we won't reach full potential; we can't thrive.

It can be a daunting thought; to confront yourself about your health habits. But it doesn't have to be as hard as we'd like to make out. Just try to implement one small change per week, and by the end of the month you'll have four new good habits; what could you achieve in a year?

Some small changes could include:

- Start and finish your day with a glass of water (also try to drink 2-3L throughout the day)

- Get out of your comfort zone and purchase fruit and vegetables you've never tried before!

- Educate yourself on what you're actually putting on and in your body - don't recognise an ingredient on the label? Look it up! If it's something nasty, maybe try buying a different brand or reevaluating the necessity of that item on your shopping list.

- Go for a walk! Exercise doesn't have to be hard or painful, just take that first step into doing some positive, conscious movement!

- Get enough sleep! Try for a minimum of 8 hours a night, and see how you feel!

- Try some meditation or deep breathing exercises - it may not be for everyone, but stress is as unhealthy as any poor food choice.

- Reach for a piece of fruit instead of a sugary treat when you get that mid-afternoon sugar craving!

I'd love to hear from you! What's your number value on your health? What small changes are you going to implement over the next weeks? What goals would you love to reach? What results are you hoping to see?

After all, without our health, we really have nothing!