New Delhi, December 27, 2017: Another year is at an end. Time passes by in a blink when a person has more things to worry about than there are hours in a day. Every year we vow to sleep better, eat better, exercise more and generally give our health more priority over the rest of the ever-busy tasks that constantly take up our time. But most of us are not really able to achieve the milestones we aim for. So our weight issues keep us worried, our stamina continues to deteriorate and our health keeps on suffering.
Work will never end, but one day your life will. Treating your body like a temple is as important as your other priorities and commitments. The non-communicable disease burden is increasing in India due to increase in sedentary lifestyle and stress faced every day.
This unsustainable style of living cannot be allowed to continue for much longer and it must be tackled at an individual level, as much as at the government level.
Here are a few ways suggested by experts from Apollo Hospitals by which you can maintain a balanced lifestyle without compromising on your other ambitions.
- Most metro cities are these days polluted due to heavy industrial presence. Delhi has recently been highlighted in the news for its deadly smog which enveloped the citizens of Delhi in a deadly haze for weeks. Skin, which is our first line of defence, bears the brunt of different forms of pollution.
This new year, give your skincare precedence. Dr D M Mahajan, Sr. Consultant, Dermatology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital says, “It is important to keep your skin moisturised, especially during winters. Your face cream should be oil in water base while your body lotion should be water in oil base. Staying regularly hydrated is also essential for the good health of your skin. While going out, try to keep as much of your skin covered as possible.”
- “You are what you eat,” Dr Priyanka Rohatgi, Sr. Consultant, Dietician, Apollo Hospital stressed upon the important of adhering to a good diet and eating regularly. “Consuming food at irregular intervals causes disturbance to our metabolic cycles. It is important to eat a balanced diet, and keep foods with high glycemic index like fatty foods away from your plate.”
- Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, Sr Consultant, Internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals comments, “People do not understand just how important exercise is for health. You need to move your muscles. A sedentary lifestyle is like poison which kills you slowly. If you can devote hours to your hobbies, you can find 30 minutes to an hour every day to exercise and stay genuinely fit.”
- Stress is one of the biggest reasons people have a mental breakdown, informs Dr Achal Bhagat, Sr Consultant, Psychiatry, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
Stress is a common everyday reality and not a demon around the corner. We all face it. This New Year, plan to make your life more important than work. Balance your goals and the use of your time.
First, Ask yourself:
– Do I think about the worst outcomes?
– Do I think I am no good if I do not achieve hundred per cent?
– Do I magnify my problems?
– Do I minimize my strengths?
– Do I have fixed rules for myself?
Then pledge and do the following
– Set your priorities, you cannot do everything
– Do only a few things at one time
– Acknowledge near failures as good lessons
– Be realistic about your abilities and limitations
– Acknowledge, not everything is about you. Do not feel targeted.
– Accept feedback.
5. Success is always in the grey zone. Success is not black and white. You win some and you lose some! “It’s is advisable to keep children indoors as extreme temperatures can cause respiratory issues and viral illnesses. The incidence of flu and wheezing increases at this time. Dress your child in layers and take him/her out only if necessary.” says Dr Akshay Kapoor, Sr Consultant, Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.