Celebrating a New Year of Holistic Health: Physical Health

When you think of what a healthy person looks like, most people immediately think of physical health. That’s not surprising, considering that of the 5 pillars of holistic health, physical health is the easiest to measure, and can be easily seen and felt. But the idea of physical wellness is so much more than hitting the gym on a regular basis. 

Sure, getting up and moving is a very important part of this pillar, but there’s so much more to it than that. Here’s all you need to know about physical health in holistic terms, and how you can prioritize it this year.

Read about why holistic health  as a whole is important for your well-being.

What is Physical Health?

Our bodies are the vessels that we live in and experience life. If our bodies aren’t performing at optimal levels, it will make taking care of the other holistic health pillars much more difficult. Additionally, many of the pillars can overlap with one another, meaning doing something for your physical health may potentially be beneficial to your nutritional health, as well.

Physical Health encompasses everything to do with the physical body. This can be superficial, such as our skin health, to below the surface, such as how our cells function. Besides our physical activity levels, this pillar also covers how well we are sleeping, our hygiene levels, and our diets. 

Healthy Habits to Impact Physical Health, Holistically

Make Drinking Water a Priority

We can survive for a much longer time without food than we can without water. Drinking water keeps our body hydrated, and ensures that the systems within our body function properly. If you’ve ever experienced dehydration, you know how a lack of water can contribute to feeling weak and brain fog.

Move

Getting your body up and moving is the most obvious habit to improve your physical health. Participating in at least thirty minutes of physical activity per day may help to improve mental and emotional health. If you’re experiencing soreness, you may actually find relief in gently moving your muscles. And no need to sign up for a 5K right away! Moving may be as simple as a quick yoga practice, or a walk in the woods. 

Rest

As much as it’s important to get our bodies moving, it’s just as crucial our bodies get enough rest too. What does that mean exactly? In short, getting quality sleep for 7-9 hours per night. It also means that after our bodies move, we take time to recover. It can also mean giving our minds (and eyes!) some rest from distractions such as our televisions and phones. 

Re-Evaluate Your Hygiene Routine

Having good hygiene means that we’re keeping every part of our bodies clean. Some of these tasks, like bathing frequently, brushing our teeth, and washing our hands are tasks we already do every day. This may also be taken a step further by ensuring our nails are well-manicured, our hair is healthy and groomed, and finding a skincare routine that is correct for us. 

Reach for More Nutrient-Dense Foods

There’s that old saying, “You are what you eat.” Although that may not be 100% accurate, what we do eat does fuel our bodies. Rather than overhaul your diet all in one go, you could try eliminating some processed foods, and swapping for more whole, unprocessed options. Processed foods may cause more inflammation in our bodies. Additionally, adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet is an easy way to eat a little bit better. 

What are your favorite ways to take care of your physical health? Let us know in the comments!

And stay tuned to next week’s holistic health pillar, nutritional health!