The 4 Pillars Of Well Being
I was listening to a podcast recently, and the author of the podcast mentioned the four pillars of well-being. These four pillars interconnect with one another, if one of these pillars is missing, it will affect the others, like a structure of a building.
As we end 2022, I wanted to share these four pillars with you in hopes they can serve as a guide of what to strive for in 2023.
Nutrition: Eating healthy is essential to well being. If your diet and nutrition is poor, you will lack the fuel and energy to move forward with other health-related goals. Sugar is especially detrimental, too much sugar will leave you feeling sluggish and with very little energy. Too much sugar over time can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Try to swap sugary food with fruits and nuts. Sugar in fruits contains fibers, minerals and vitamins which is a much healthier option to sweets and baked goods. White rice, pasta and bread also contain sugar, try switching to whole wheat options instead.
Exercise: Exercise is the most powerful medicine available. From blood pressure management, healthier bones and joints, to weight loss and improved memory and thinking, exercise can have a tremendous benefit on the body. The benefits of exercise can be obtained in as little as ten to fifteen minutes of moderate activity a day. This activity could be as simple as an outdoor walk, or an indoor bike ride. Research shows that the benefits of exercise can include a reduction in the risk of heart disease, blood pressure,stroke, and diabetes, and can help reduce stress and anxiety.
Cognition refers to our ability to think. It also refers to our ability to recognize, obtain, comprehend, and answer information that is presented to us. Examples of cognition include concentration, the ability to remember things, analyzation, problem-solving, categorizing, and reordering. We need to be able to do all these things to be successful in our daily lives in work, social, and academic environments. Like everything else in our lives, our cognitive health is directly related to our overall mental health. For those suffering from mental health issues, the ability to perform even the most basic cognitive tasks can be nearly impossible. Some signs of cognitive dysfunction as a result of a mental health issue include:
Not being able to problem-solve
Poor decision making
Confusion
Regular headaches
A decline in performance either at work or at school
Having difficulty concentrating
Having trouble focusing or thinking clearly
Memory loss
Difficulty sleeping
See the full post here: https://muscleandjoint.ca/Mississauga/the-4-pillars-of-well-being/
