And of a truth, anytime we hear the mention of anything health, we most times think it's all about malaria, typhoid, headache, and the like. But health really goes beyond that. I doubt if I've really heard anyone say something like, I'm not feeling fine mentally. How will you even say it, especially in a society and country like ours? We often misunderstand and term it some other way. Even among your immediate family, they won't see it the same way; they will say something else entirely. You're even lucky if all they have to say to you is to go and pray or reduce the way you think. But then, both mental and physical health are connected; it's not possible to treat one with levity and expect a good turnout/normal function.
Let's take, for instance, a man who jogs every morning, stays hydrated, eats fruit, and looks strong and very well built. In essence, a man who looks all strong and okay, but then in his head he's battling with various things, from debts to loans to family problems to anxiety and all. Now tell me how those muscles would come through for him. No matter how built he is and how okay he is physically, those things are enough to break him down. In the same way, we can talk about a lady who loves to read, who meditates, who does not overthink, and who stays positive always, but then this lady eats junk, sleeps for a few hours, and does not exercise. You already know what will happen in the long run: that body will give up as well. I am not against exercising, I am not against looking very well built 🤗, and I am not against reading and such. What I am saying in essence is that it should be balanced; both are important.
Now, how do we strike the balance? I'm not a health practitioner, but then I can be able to help with just a few simple things to do and put in place. First off, as a Nigerian, it is never easy; there's stress and a lot of things to make one overthink out there, even in your immediate family. So, firstly, learn or find a way to calm your own mind; if you don't, you will always break down, and sooner or later it will lead to something worse. Also, always take a few minutes to pray each and every morning; it does go a long way. Meditate and pray before setting out for the day.
Another thing you can do is to take walks. Whenever you feel as if it's weighing down on you, take a walk—it's not something to pay for—play some music, dance, and such; this helps in clearing your head to some extent. Also, talk, not just to any random person but to someone you feel safe with; voice out, open up, share your struggles, and even if you don't want to, you can still talk about a different topic, about how you met, and the like. This does help greatly in lightening the loads on one's head. Because of a truth, we all have loads on our heads, or maybe... shoulders 😁.
Resting is important too. Even though the word rest itself looks hard, how can you think of resting when bills are there staring at you? But then rest well; it's not you being lazy. Take your time out, and also eat—eat good foods, and always stay hydrated. Our body is not a machine; it gets tired too, and it needs rest and proper care as well.
You don't really need to do the big things or spend a lot to strike a balance. Maybe seeing a health practitioner, maybe going to the gym, maybe going for a paid session, and all. But then, I only try to keep it simple to things that wouldn't cost and would definitely help. Eat well, take walks, stay hydrated, rest, talk when needed, and protect yourself from unnecessary pressures. Don't focus on the body and neglect your mind; your health is very one-sided—there's the mental aspect too. The two must be well taken care of for you to truly be well.
All pictures are mine.
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