Hello gentlemen! In honor of National Men’s Health Month, we share 5 tips on how to stay physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy!
#1: Preventive Health Care
Do you only see the doctor when something is wrong? If so, you are doing it wrong! One of the pillars of building a stronger self is preventive health. Preventive health care allows you to stay up to date on your current health and be notified of potential problems before they cause severe damage.
We highly recommend getting an annual physical and seeing your dentist, optometrist, and dermatologist each year. We also recommend building relationships with a cardiologist, urologist, gastroenterologist, and nephrologist if you are at risk of certain medical conditions.
#2: Regular Exercise and Diet
Exercise
You have likely read recommendations for regular exercise and diet before, but that is because they are critical to your physical and mental health. However, not all men should follow the same exercise and diet plan. If you are not a gym buff, that is totally fine. There are a variety of other sports and activities you can pursue that will help you reach your exercise quota for the week. You just have to find the one that works for you.
Diet
Just like exercise, a proper diet isn’t the same for all men either. Some men can seemly eat forever without gaining a pound, but that isn’t the point. What you put into your body affects all of your internal systems. Therefore, even if you can eat everything that doesn’t eat you first, it doesn’t mean you should.
Following a regular diet of lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and the intake of necessary vitamins and minerals will serve you the best. If you have questions about your diet and how it affects your specific body type and living conditions, we recommend speaking with a nutritionist.
#3: Find Destressing Methods
Stress gets to everyone, both men and women. While some stress can motivate us to push harder and pursue our goals, chronic stress can lead to long-term physical, mental, and emotional health problems. Therefore, every man needs to find a way to destress!
Maybe for you, that means mowing the lawn, watching a movie, going on a walk, writing in a journal, cooking, or playing with your cat. Whatever it is, make sure to schedule it into your day each and every day.
#4: Spend Time with Loved Ones
A key pillar of happiness is spending time with loved ones. You can build social connections and increase your happiness by scheduling time with family, friends, and even coworkers. We recommend trying out some of the fun things to do here in Anchorage, many of which will help you achieve exercise and destressing at the same time!
#5: Be Open to Talking about Mental Health
As we said above, you shouldn’t only go to the doctor when you have a problem, which also counts for your mental health. While our society is normalizing mental health, it is still common for men to feel stigmatized for seeking help in this area. We encourage you to push past that perception and recognize that those who love and support you will want you to ask for help and see a professional if you want or need it.
Remember, seeing a therapist regularly will help you process emotions and situations, both good and bad, as they happen, rather than letting them build up until you feel like you will explode. Regular therapy isn’t a weakness; it is a strength.
