For many, their 30s are the best time of their lives where they are busiest with work-related responsibilities, planning to start a family or already have young kids. At that time, life is all about juggling commitments. As such, it is tempting to put your own health requirements aside as you focus on other things, but your health should always be a priority – no matter how many other responsibilities you’re handling.
Your 30s are the best time to start monitoring your health for potential problems, as well as preventing issues in the future. You might be feeling great right now, but staying on top of your health and up-to-date via regular health checks means a healthier, more energetic you in the future. In the process, you will also be reducing work-related injuries, according to personal injury lawyers of Koonz McKenney. Here are five health priorities you need to include in your 30s wellbeing list.
Understand Your Body
Your body is always changing as you age, and becoming aware of these changes means preparation through the right nutrition, exercise and necessary lifestyle changes. In your 30s, your body’s metabolism will likely slow down, so you need to keep a close eye on the amount of calories you are taking in – and cut out processed foods while you’re at it. In addition, you will likely lose muscle tone, making exercise critical. The most popular types are aerobic exercises or weight lifting.
Critical Health Checks
Unless you are at risk of a particular health condition, make health-screening tests an annual or every two-year event. Some of the health checks include blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels (especially if there is a history of diabetes in your family), and pelvic exams and pap tests. Other checks you should have are dental checkups, skin cancer check, eye tests, and testes examination for men.
Prevent Osteoporosis
Bone loss usually starts in your 30s for women, and this can lead to osteoporosis. Some of the things you can do to prevent the bone-thinning condition include increasing your calcium intake to keep your bones and teeth strong. In addition, get healthy levels of vitamin D through appropriate supplements or exposure to natural sunlight – without this vitamin, you body will not be in the position to absorb calcium.
As the United States has some of the highest recorded incidences of different types of skin cancer, it’s critical you balance your sunlight exposure to minimize skin cancer risk. However, the recommended exposure time will vary according to your skin type, your location, amount of skin exposed and season.
Mental Health
As you age, it is important that you look at your mental health and wellbeing as another part of your overall healthcare plan. If you’ve had mental health problems in the past, consistent care from a health professional is critical. If you are just experiencing problems in your 30s, you are not on your own.
The 30s are characterized by big life changes, and speaking up is not a sign of weakness – speaking to your general practitioner is a great first step in getting the help you need. In fact, you will be surprised to know that many people around you are already successfully managing their mental health problems.
Prioritize Your Health
This is especially important for parents who in their busy lives neglect their own needs. You don’t need to feel guilty every time you take some time to look after yourself. If you find yourself always short on time, consider combining things on your to-do list.
For instance, walk your dog with the kids; and you can tick off taking care of your furry friend, spending time with your children and getting some exercise. Talk about smart multitasking!