We live in a time of increasing uncertainty. That can lead to increased stress and decreased health, which can lead to increased uncertainty … and the cycle continues. Here are some thoughts on breaking the cycle of uncertainty and replacing it with a sustainable path to ongoing personal and professional success.
In the not-too-distant past, we lived in a time of relative security. If you got the right job with the right company, your chances of a long career with a secure retirement were pretty good. Parents could reliably create a better future for their children. But all of that has changed.
The relative uncertainty of jobs and short shelf-life of careers has lead some to a downward spiral of habits: we eat on the run, get too little sleep, and so on. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The elements of health
Staying healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. There is a lot of conflicting information available and a new fad diet seems to pop up every day. Yet there is a growing agreement among health care professionals on five basic principles that lead to a productive and healthy life.
Five elements
- Eat right – Beyond the fad diets, Evidence-Based Nutrition indicates we can all be healthier when we:
- Eat more whole foods and less processed products
- Eat more plant-based food and less animal-based products
- Get more of our fat from whole food and consume less oil
- Move – We all know we need to exercise, but a little movement can go a long way toward contributing to health. Try a walking meeting or take a group bike ride as a way to meet new people.
- Reduce your stress – From yoga and formal meditation to just disconnecting with a classic movie or concert, we need to find ways to release the stress that accumulates in our lives.
- Get enough sleep – New studies indicate that sufficient sleep may be even more important than exercise for maintaining health. There is no sleep bank. If you want to give your best to your family, friends, startup, and yourself, you need to get enough sleep every day. Reducing your stress can be a big contributor to getting enough high-quality sleep.
- Be a part of something – Human beings are social creatures (even the introverts). Being a part of something that is personally meaningful can make all of the other elements easier. Eating is a social activity. Trusted comrades reduce stress which leads to better sleep. This requires more than just showing up at events. It requires engaging in community!
One rule
There is one simple rule to make all of this happen:
Aim for improvement, not perfection.
It’s tempting to want to “get this right” then move on to “more important things”. Healthy habits are a practice, not a goal to be achieved.
It’s also easy to relegate health to the “when I get around to it” category. When we ignore our health, we become less productive. We rob our careers, startups, business partners, and loved ones of the best that we can be.
So, what’s the one thing you can start doing right now that will lead to a healthier tomorrow?
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