Lifestyle -Should it be stylish or Healthy?

 Lifestyle -Should it be stylish or Healthy?

When we hear the word "style," it's often associated with how a person dresses or carries themselves. For example, in the past, people admired Clint Eastwood for his stylish way of wearing a hat and handling a revolver. In South India, people admired Superstar Rajinikanth for his unique style of walking and smoking a cigarette. Many actors and actresses have been admired for their style across different generations. Today, however, the word "style" has been combined with the prefix "life" and the suffix "disease" to form a new, critical term.

The word that once sounded glamorous is now used to describe ailments resulting from the lifestyles we lead. Lifestyle diseases, also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), are health conditions primarily caused and worsened by unhealthy daily habits and choices. Unlike infectious diseases (such as COVID-19 or malaria), they are not transmitted from person to person.

Lifestyle diseases range from Type 2 Diabetes to cancer and many others, stemming from factors like unhealthy food habits, physical inactivity, and chronic stress.

I am neither a doctor nor a dietician, so I cannot provide medical solutions for these diseases. I am a behavioural trainer focused on developing behavioural and soft skills. In my work with people, I have interacted with both healthy and unhealthy individuals. While many factors contribute to a person's health, I often hear healthy individuals attribute their well-being to their DNA. At the same time, those who are unhealthy frequently realise it's due to poor immunity or, more commonly, their lifestyle.

To those who are healthy and maintain good health, kudos to you! Continue on this path and inspire others with your words and actions. For those who have realised they are unhealthy due to their lifestyle, now is the time for introspection and to commit to change for yourselves and your families.

Yes, many people realise the need for change, but only a few act on it. The rest continue with their unhealthy lifestyles, expecting miracles to happen later in life. The reality is that by then, it is often too late.

Here are some simple activities to start working on your lifestyle:

1. List down your unhealthy habits.

2. Select one habit and write down its negative implications.

3. Seek the help of a medical practitioner to help you overcome it.

For instance, if you sit for long periods, understand the potential implications (such as poor circulation or back pain) and seek professional guidance to create a more active routine. Once you start working on these unhealthy habits, you will, over time, experience a lifestyle that boosts your morale and helps you stay fit.

As the saying goes, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Wear your pedometer and take that first step to break free from a sedentary life.

Remember, it is your life, and let this style not be about impressing people, but rather one that inspires them to stay healthy and fit.

M.L.Narendra Kumar