Now that fatherhood is a firmly ensconced reality, and you have come to terms with the fact that you have several people who depend on you, it is as important as ever to take care of yourself. While fitness in your youth was as easy as waking up, a family brings changes, and a conscious effort must be made in order to ensure your presence and participation in the joys of your children and to provide the love and support they need.
The keys to being a healthy dad are really quite simple – it is not a great mystery of existence: take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. The relationship among the three is symbiotic, with each enhancing the other. Read on below for more details on our health tips for dads.
Physical Well-Being
Being healthy physically requires eating sensibly, exercising on a regular basis, and paying attention to your body. Here are a few things you can do:
Eat a balanced diet, pay attention to the number of calories you consume, and minimize the intake of processed foods. There are countless, easily accessible resources to help you structure a balanced – and delicious – diet, and you will be able to keep enjoying the foods you like; just be sure to practice moderation. To make the process easier, involve your children in the planning – if they know it will help you live a healthier and longer life, they will be more than willing to pitch in.
Remember - when we were kids exercise was called recess or playtime, so go ahead and be creative with how you exercise. Take up a sport like golf or tennis that the whole family can enjoy. If your kids are young, chase them around the yard and then pick them up and carry them. Go hiking and camping; take dance lessons; learn how to garden. The opportunities are endless and the benefits well worth the time spent having fun. Pay attention to your body, and listen to what it is telling you. If you do not feel right or are in pain, don’t suck it up and try to be a macho, macho, man. See the doctor. If you are tired, get some sleep; seven or eight hours each night, and take an occasional power nap (about 20 minutes) to stay refreshed.
Oh, and if you smoke or use tobacco – quit. Period. End of discussion.
Being Mentally Awake
Exercising the old gray matter is just as important as physical exercise for good mental health. So read, take up a hobby, or do math, word, and logic puzzles; plan, plot, and scheme with family members to find ways to improve your community and the lives of those around you. Anything that gets your brain synapses firing will help maintain mental acuity.
In addition, get out and take part in the day-to-day of life. Volunteer, organize, campaign, join a club (or start one if you cannot find one to suit your tastes), or participate in any activity that requires interacting with others – it pays off in the long run.
Emotional Well-Being
Stress, negativity, and constant worry will have an adverse effect both physically and mentally. This does not mean you have to be Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm, but a pragmatic approach with a bit of optimism will get you through the toughest times.
Recent studies indicate that taking a few minutes at the end of the day, before going to bed, and reflecting on what went right will greatly improve your outlook and emotional health. Give this just a week: simply write down three good things that happened that day, and then follow up with a single sentence explanation as to why they were positive. You will find that you take fewer things for granted, have many things going for you, and you will notice a positive upturn to your attitude. Make it a nightly ritual for continued results.
Being a healthy dad is not a difficult process, it just takes a little thought and planning, and developing a new set of habits. Once you establish a new routine, you will be around to take part in the lives of your family for several generations. For more information and health tips for men, stay tuned to our blog.
