A healthy lifestyle gets harder and harder to achieve these days. The evolution of technology has taken its toll too, as the drive for faster, easier, and improved efficiency has taken over most aspects of daily living. A lot of tasks humans do, are now technology assisted. With computers and artificial intelligence, humans can do a lot more in very little time with very little physical activities too.
As I got reflecting on the last couple of weeks, with the appreciation of the fact that we have commenced the last lap of quarter one of 2023, I reminisced on how the last two months have gone by so quickly. I took stock of the last eight weeks and saw the need to re calibrate. I realized that I spend no less than a cumulative nine hours daily being sedentary (now this is me being conservative). This isn’t because of a mobility disability, rather it is due to unconscious lifestyle choices. Like me, many people make these choices unintentionally, often due to work pressures, life demands, social pressures, and a lot of other factors. From working endless hours behind computer screens, spending hours on car seats commuting to and from work locations, to catching up with friends virtually to unwind, the list is endless.
So, while the pressures listed above are in themselves not bad, how we handle them and the how much we give in, can easily take a toll on our physical well-being among other things. The human body can be likened to a power generating set. Like the typical power generator, the human body has a lot of moving parts. For optimal and efficient functioning of the generator set, the various parts must be routinely maintained, both individually and as a single unit. The maintenance would range from cleaning and oiling the various components using good quality lubricants, to periodically running the generator to ensure proper lubrication of parts. To ensure longevity of the generating set, it is also important to not to over work it.
Hence, it is important to be deliberate about the quality of what we ingest. Unlike the generating set though, the human body requires a lot more variety of lubricants, to keep it functioning efficiently. From what we eat and drink, to what we hear and watch, all serve as lubricants to our body albeit working on different components of our being, our minds, and our physical structure.
However, while many people do remember to eat, drink, watch and listen, very few make deliberate efforts to focus on the quality of these for their well-being. Like an engine will revolt with poor quality maintenance and the application of bad quality lubricants, by frequent breakdowns or complete knock down, our bodies will often revolt too, when we ingest poor quality food, drinks, and materials. Though the human body may react more slowly, if one pays attention to it, and get used to knowing the signals it gives, you will know when it begins to perform sub-optimally, like one can tell from the sound a groaning power generating set.
It is therefore key, to ensure the human body is fed with a balanced diet. Balanced diet not only in meals, but in the materials, we read, watch, and listen to, as those nourish the mind, and can help improve our mental well-being, while balanced meals nourish our physical body structure.
Similarly, exercising forms a critical part of our well-being. The advancement of technology as mentioned earlier, has led to more sedentary lifestyles for many people. Such that, as technology continues to evolve building sleek, slimmer and smarter gadgets, humans are gradually becoming dull, obese, and goofy. As many, move from spending hours behind computer screens doing work, to unwinding behind mobile screens with virtual friends, catching up on news via social media on phones screens or generally relaxing, slumped in a couch behind the TV screen. Asides the damaging effect of excessive screen hours on the eyes (which unfortunately is irreversible in most cases), it also means we move our bodies less. While a moderate physical activity of thirty minutes daily is recommended, it is important to remember that like the generator, maintenance of the body in parts and as a single unit is critical.
Hence, deliberately targeting to exercise different muscles of our body routinely with simple workouts, and simultaneously via brisk walks and some forms of sports, is essential for our holistic well-being and longevity.
