You, Your Mind, and Healthy Living

Health has many subcategories, but what does it mean to be healthy?

Perhaps you define ‘healthy’ as, “the well-being of one’s physical and mental state”. Are you healthy? What is a healthy lifestyle?.

Our definitions of ‘healthy’ may not be exactly the same, but they might not be so different. Since elementary school, we were taught about health living. To name a few, topics such as nutrition, smoking, and mental health. Why do we leave this knowledge in our heads, but refuse to take action? Many of us do not go out to exercise, even when we know that it is necessary in our daily lives. We do not get enough sleep—we decide to stay up all night, although we know the effect it will have the morning after—and continue this routine. All these examples were of physical health. In fact, physical health tends to be the main thought when we think about healthy living. What about mental health?

We face disappointments everyday. Often times, we may be disappointed in ourselves. When this disappointment builds up, it leads to poor mental health.

This is how my past week went—maybe it will help you connect. I am in the middle of (what feels like) an extremely long week. Assignments, evaluations and extra-curricular events are piling up. I list down my tasks, and plan a mental schedule for my day. I have a math test tomorrow, but my homework questions are barely completed. I know that I cannot procrastinate tonight, otherwise I will drown in work. When I come home from school, I snack on chips and roll around. There are too many tasks, but again, I am fully aware that I have to get work done. A few hours pass, but I did not get to check off many of my tasks. I do not review math. Until nighttime, the best time. I do not end up reviewing all the math questions I would have liked to. Unable to fight my need to sleep, I go to bed, disappointed in myself. I planned out my day, and thought I would be productive. Yet there I was, lying in bed, without sufficient sleep nor completed studies.

Here is the question: why did I procrastinate even when I knew that I would only be more anxious later on? Why did I procrastinate even when I knew that I would eventually have to do my work? Why didn’t I start earlier? Honestly, I don’t know. What I have learned however, is that procrastinating did not help me in any way. I was not confident with my math test, nor myself. I physically and mentally felt the effect of the sleep I lost. But I am glad, because through that, I had a reason and motivation to why I needed a healthy lifestyle. Without it, I obviously would not function very well. Nonetheless, being ‘healthy’ is not easy. But with strong motivation, I think it is possible.

At any point in my story, did you see yourself? Perhaps you should evaluate yourself, and think about how you are. Are you healthy?

Sarah An

2019 Spring Issue