In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to overlook the importance of our health-related quality of life. However, taking proactive steps to improve our well-being can have a profound impact on our overall happiness and satisfaction. This article aims to guide you on a journey toward enhancing your health-related quality of life by providing practical tips and effective strategies. From prioritizing self-care to adopting healthy habits, we will explore various aspects that contribute to a fulfilling and balanced lifestyle. By implementing these recommendations, you can pave the way for a healthier, more vibrant life filled with joy and vitality.
What is Health and Quality of Life?
When we talk about the concept of health and well-being or quality of life, we easily define or consider health the opposite of illness, that is, the total state of well-being in which the individual does not suffer from any injury or illness, thus exercising all its functions with total normality.
Quality of life refers to various aspects that go beyond the disease. That is, to enjoy an excellent quality of life there must be a balance between five different areas or quality of life indicators:
- Physical Wellbeing: This is where health and physical safety come in.
- Material Well-being: Refers to income, belongings, housing, transportation, etc.
- Social Wellbeing: Refers to personal relationships, friendships, family, and community.
- Personal Development: Includes productivity, contribution, and education.
- Emotional Well-being: no less important, as it includes having good self-esteem, mentality, emotional intelligence
What Relationship Exists Between Both Terms?
It is impossible to refer to quality of life without including the issue of health and vice versa, and one concept depends on the other; we cannot expect to have an excellent quality of life if our health is poor. Studies have shown that there is a close relationship between quality of life and diseases (both physical and mental), that is, health.
Among the many examples of the quality of life that I could mention is the fact of finding successes that confirm that a person with a low quality of life is much more likely to suffer from disorders or high levels of anxiety and depression. This is due to the many psychological variables that normally affect the majority of the population, such as; the constant episodes of stress, the deficiency of social support, poor personal performance, and little control over one’s life, among many other factors.
All of this causes a poor level of personal satisfaction, emotional unevenness, and little success in life that in one way or another affect a person’s quality of life. To be clearer, certain studies of morbidity and mortality related to chronic diseases such as cancer or heart disease have proven that these conditions go beyond genetic loads.
It has been confirmed that in addition to this, innumerable risk factors contribute to the appearance or worsening of them, such as; poor health habits, and inadequate lifestyle (poor diet, tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption).
That is why, when faced with these diseases, one of the first medical recommendations is to modify behavior, not only during their treatment but also for their prevention.
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How to Improve Health and Quality of Life?
To improve certain quality of life, health, and well-being factors, cognitive and behavioral strategies must undoubtedly be used that allow you to create changes at a biological, psychological, and socio-environmental level.
Among these most common strategies and/or habits that in a certain way will help you improve your health and therefore your quality of life, the following stand out:
- Try as much as possible to always maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
- Constantly perform physical exercise.
- Eliminate tobacco consumption.
- Reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Work on the performance of job performance.
- Find strategies to improve sleep quality.
- Avoid or reduce stressful situations.
- Learn to regulate and manage emotions.
- Improve interpersonal relationships of all kinds.
- Learn to express emotions clearly.
- Increase confidence, self-efficacy, and self-assurance.
These are just some of the tips or strategies that will help you to progressively improve your quality of life and maintain better health.
Maintaining it does not depend solely on health services, but rather on raising awareness regarding the importance of physical and mental health to improve and maintain an excellent quality of life and optimal well-being.
7 habits for a healthy lifestyle
If you want to start leading a healthier lifestyle, it is best to start small. It’s no use joining the gym at full speed and trying to go at once for 2 hours every day, in the end, the only thing you achieve is the opposite effect and you stop after a few days. We give you a series of useful tips to start little by little to acquire healthier lifestyle habits and feel better both inside and out. know that How to improve communication skills in daily life
Physical activity of 30 minutes a day
It is important to have an active life and move as much as possible. Due to a matter of time, it is often impossible to go to the gym or play sports daily. However, we must take time to walk, walk up the stairs…
Experts recommend walking at least 30 minutes a day. Find your moment to move and activate your body!
Drink 2 liters of water daily
Hydration is very important. Therefore, we must drink at least 2 liters of water a day to hydrate ourselves and avoid fluid retention. Try drinking infusions between meals. They come in many flavors and functions: digestive, detoxifying, relaxing… In addition, they will keep you satiated and thus avoid snacking between meals.
Eat five meals a day
Eat five meals a day: breakfast, lunch, lunch, snack, and dinner. Don’t go more than 3 hours without eating. The key is to eat many times a day, in small quantities and in a balanced way. Many people have the habit of not eating breakfast. However, this is the most important meal of the day. It gives us energy to face the day and a necessary nutritional contribution after a whole night without eating.
If we skip meals or don’t have a snack, for example, we will arrive hungrier at dinner and we will end up choosing unhealthy options in large quantities.
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Eat five pieces of vegetables, fruits, and vegetables daily. They are very healthy since they have many vitamins and minerals beneficial to the body. If you don’t like fruit or vegetables very much, you can have them in the form of smoothies or juices. Another option is to add vegetables and greens as a garnish to your dishes.
Avoid saturated fats and processed foods
Our body needs fats for its proper functioning. These fats are known as healthy fats. We can obtain them from foods such as nuts, avocados, or fatty fish such as salmon. On the other hand, there are saturated fats. These are found in processed foods and industrial pastries. They are harmful to health and it is recommended to reduce their consumption as much as possible.
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Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or soft drinks
Tobacco and alcohol contain toxic substances that put our health at risk. Additionally, alcohol contains additives, saturated fats and a lot of sugar. Something that can promote weight problems and hypertension. Do you usually drink soft drinks with meals? Replace them with water. These drinks contain added sugars and produce excess gases in the body.
Sleep 7-8 hours a day
Resting well is very important. It is recommended to sleep 7-8 hours a day. Sleeping less than six hours can seriously affect your health. Among other things, it can cause weight gain, cardiovascular problems, fatigue, or anxiety.
Also, take care of emotional health
It is also very important to take care of emotional health, so social relationships must be encouraged: sharing experiences, expressing feelings, accepting oneself, enjoying friends and family, smiling, and laughing often. It does not mean that it is necessary to have a hyperactive social life or to be the king of the party, but our social life must be enough to be comfortable with our surroundings, although we must also be open to meeting new people who give us different experiences and knowledge.
it is essential to learn to manage emotions and not let them take over us. This does not mean rejecting or repressing what we feel, but rather letting it flow while we distance ourselves from it. Skills such as resilience or assertiveness are essential in everyday life. The first allows us to face the adverse situations we face, while the second helps us establish limits with our environment to protect ourselves, while always maintaining firm, clear, and calm communication. Likewise, managing stress, perfectionism, and self-demand is key to not losing sight of who we are or what our priorities are. All of this will help you enjoy good mental health.
Conclusion:
Improving our health-related quality of life is a continuous journey that requires dedication and commitment. By implementing the strategies and tips discussed in this article, you can make significant strides toward achieving a higher level of well-being. Remember to prioritize self-care, maintain a balanced lifestyle, and adopt healthy habits that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Small changes can have a big impact, so start by incorporating one or two practices into your daily routine and gradually build upon them. Embrace the power of self-improvement and take control of your health-related quality of life. With persistence and a positive mindset, you can create a life filled with vitality, happiness, and fulfillment.