Recently I’ve encountered some health challenges which has made me reflect on the importance of staying healthy.

For those who are young it is easy to get away with bad food and lifestyle choices. With age, poor health choices can catch up to you much quicker.

Good health comes as a result of the choices we make every day. Especially as you age, your mental and physical health should be your top priority. Here are just a few ways to seriously start taking care of your health.

• Stop self-diagnosing and actually go to the doctor

Sometimes we feel that if we ignore various symptoms the problem will just go away. For anyone who does this, I have news for you – it doesn’t work that way. One important thing to remember is that you don’t get second chances with your body. Once the damage is done sometimes that is it. Be proactive with your body. Seeing the doctor and taking care of your health may spare you thousands of dollars in medical bills. Those appointments will be well worth your time in the long run.

• Have a solid Plan B

2020 has thrown us a load of curve balls. I’m sure many of you have had well thought out plans change this year. Try to have a solid back-up plan to keep your stress levels low. You may not be able to completely avoid calamity, but you can take steps to make the aftermath a little more manageable.

• Hydrate

One of the most challenging things in the winter for me is staying hydrated. I have little to no desire to drink water. Also, since I am out and about and bathrooms are sometimes limited, it helps for me not to have to find one. But even mild dehydration can affect your mood and energy levels. One way to start increasing your water intake is by adding one additional glass of water per day to your normal routine. You could also divide your body weight in half and drink that amount in ounces per day. You may start to see a positive change in your mood and energy levels.

• Take care of your teeth

When was the last time you went for a dental check up? Some people are scared of the dentist, which makes them put off appointments. Poor dental health is linked to heart disease and lower life expectancy. Those reasons alone are enough to ensure I make regular dental appointments. Make sure you are brushing and flossing; if you are diligent on cleaning you won’t have to see the actual dentist often at all.

• Guard your mental health

I feel that mental health is truly the most important point on the list. Sometimes poor mental health is stigmatised however when someone gets cancer, we don’t blame them for the disease. As long as we are not open about mental health it will continue to have a stigma. It is just as important as our physical health. We don’t need to solve every issue but asking for help if things get to be too much can help us gain some sense of control again over our lives.

Take care of your body, mentally and physically and B-Active For Life!

Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Look for B. ActiveForLife on Facebook