If you have a dad, know a dad or are a dad… this is important. With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, it is the perfect time to celebrate Dad. Now we all know the stereotype that men don’t like going to the doctor. However, it is necessary and best to do preventative maintenance before restorative maintenance is “required.” Ask any car guy and the advice will be the same. As they say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
So these health tips are focused on good ‘ol Dad. Let’s help breakdown the stereotype.
Schedule an Annual Checkup
The most preventative part of preventative healthcare. An annual checkup will cover from head to toe and everything in between. Even if you feel fine, consistent checkups and screenings are vital to protect your health. Find a primary care physician and be an active part of your healthcare plan going forward.
Make Sleep a Priority
Based on some research, up to 25% of men are sleep-deprived. Sleep deprivation can be linked to obesity, heart disease, depression and diabetes. Getting those eight hours a night can really work to improve work performance and your body’s ability to fight disease.
Eat Healthy
Today’s fast-paced society lends itself to fast-paced meals that are easy to acquire. This leads to too many fatty foods and drinks loaded with sugar. A little meal pre-planning and you can find yourself eating more fruits, veggies and lean proteins, which will make all the difference in your daily routine.
Unplug to De-Stress
While small amounts of stress can get you moving and help you complete a project, too much stress is hard on the body and mind. Find time to get away from the screens in your life (computer, phone). Go for a hike, take the kids fishing, enjoy a picnic with the family. This time away will not only help you come back refreshed, but also help with the most important social connections in your life.
Exercise
We’ve all heard it at some point… the benefits of exercise are tremendously helpful. It helps reduce the chances of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and host of other “issues” that can crop up. Exercise can also help you sleep better (see above). Even if you can only get in 30 minutes a day, that’s 2.5 hours per week, or 130 hours per year. Moreover, you are probably already getting some of this time in through yard work, shoveling snow, or other chores around the house.
Obviously, the key to all of this is to work on making habitual choices to improve your health. Healthy habits lead to longer lives with the ones we love.