Make no mistake, physical wellbeing is not solely about diet and exercise, though they do play a big part. If we reverse the words a bit, Being Well Physically, it might put the definition into a new perspective. It’s actually a simple and complex subject.
Humans have 5 basic needs for physical survival; food, shelter, water, air and sleep. When you add in emotions, a social structure and cognitive thinking skills, things get tricky. The goal is physical happiness or being well physically. The problem is, one factor is often dependent upon another in regard to our physical selves.
Physical Wellbeing Encompasses Several Factors
It’s all about happiness and being satisfied with our lives from a physical standpoint.
As we said above, physical doesn’t necessarily mean only diet and exercise. Physical wellbeing is the overall picture. Let’s go over some of the main factors that affect physical wellbeing to get a greater understanding.
Lifestyle
We will go ahead and get this one out of the way, so we can move on to the rest. This is where diet and exercise come in, but also other important aspects of your lifestyle like work, recreational activities and social circles.
It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition, an adequate amount of quality sleep, proper hydration, and physical activity.
We must also understand that we are social creatures and thrive on human interaction. Just be mindful and refrain from any substance that has the potential to become a nasty habit; smoking, illicit drugs, alcohol abuse, etc.
Health
This factor includes personal health history and family health history, as well as current state of health. Our bodies are pretty amazing and can do a lot of self-healing from damage we’ve caused.
However, there are some things that it just can’t repair. Adapting to physical health issues can sometimes be a big curveball in overall physical wellbeing. Add in genetics invoking a predisposition for other syndromes and diseases and you get quite a cocktail.
A good relationship with your primary care physician and staying on top of preventive exams/procedures plays a big part in the health factor.
Going for natural remedies over Big Pharma is also a good decision, when possible. Sometimes prescription medications cause more side effects than they are worth.
Environmental
Every day we are subjected to any number of environmental factors. There are warning labels on just about every product we purchase. It almost seems like everything has the potential to cause cancer these days. And let’s not forget pollution and toxic chemicals in every breath we take.
Unless you are a homesteader living off the land, you’re probably exposed to something environmental that can definitely factor into your physical wellbeing.
Use natural products when you can, make sure to supplement your nutrition with vitamins and minerals you aren’t getting from your dietary intake, and go for the least processed foods possible.
Emotional Wellbeing
Our emotional state has a direct connection to our physical state. Being emotionally stressed out or unhappy will eventually take a toll on your physical wellbeing. An unhealthy mind puts stress on the immune system, internal organs, the endocrine system, as well as cardiovascular health.
For instance, persistent worry and anxiety can be directly linked to increased blood pressure and stomach ulcers in some patients. Long-term emotional overload disrupts sleep, diet and exercise patterns. It’s important to create an emotionally healthy lifestyle for the best possible physical wellbeing.
Conclusion
Your physical wellbeing should be approached as a very broad topic with many facets and factors. If you focus too much on every little detail and “what-if”, you’ll miss out on the journey. Your body will tell you when it’s unhappy with what you’re delivering or subjecting it to; just listen.
Physical wellbeing is more than just watching your weight and being in good shape. However, it’s entirely up to you to decide which factors of physical wellbeing might need the biggest adjustments and which are on track.
It’s crucial for maintaining health and wellness. Physical well-being is the foundation how we feel, function, and thrive in everyday life.
When you maintain your physical health through balanced nutrition, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and avoiding harmful habits, you equip yourself to handle stress, ward off illness, and recover from injuries.
It also supports mental and emotional health. Neglecting physical health can lead to chronic diseases, reduced productivity, and diminished life satisfaction, underscoring the importance of a holistic approach to maintaining and improving our physical state.