What does being a man mean to you?
It might be being at the peak of your physical fitness; it might mean being the person people come to with questions because they know you have the answers. Being a man might mean being a dad and looking after the family. There’s actually a lot of definitions, and it depends on our personal outlook.
One thing is for sure, though. If you fail to take care of your mind and body, you won’t be anything – let alone a man. It’s easy to fall into a state of neglect and disrepair if you rest on laurels for too long.
It’s easy to start looking after yourself. Just take care with everything that goes into your body. Question it, ask it what it is going to do for you! This may be harder in the case of alcohol, but if you consider the negligible benefits of smoking tobacco, you might realize that your smoking habit can be chalked up as a mistake. This also applies to processed and sugary foods which do almost nothing for us – avoid them like cigarettes.
If you’re having trouble keeping on top of your bad habits, simply start tracking them. A small notebook would suffice. Just simply add a mark for every cigarette you smoke or additional beer your drink after your limit. Just by looking at the raw data, or truth, of our habits can make us want to curb them.
It’s important to actually speak to a professional if something is wrong. Whether it is a wound or a mental problem you are struggling with – speaking to a doctor should always be your first port of call. Getting an issue on record and receiving treatment is actually underrated as many people, for whatever reason, choose to struggle with issues alone – be it a bad foot injury or recurring headaches. If something is up, tell a professional! If you have the skills needed to care for yourself (or if you need to care for another) you can always purchase medical supplies online.
It’s not like you have to spend money on a gym membership to start caring for yourself, though. There are plenty of exercise regimes one can start at home! From planking to push-ups, it’s not hard to get started. Of course, you should still consider heading off to the gym at some point as it is a place where you can truly push on with your path of fitness in an environment where everyone is trying to be at their best.
There is never going to be a point where it is too late to start. We all need to fight against our demons, whether they are a drag on a cigarette or lazing out on the couch. More importantly, we need to identify issues and seek help when they arise. This is never a path you have to take alone, so be sure to reach out if you are struggling. Look after yourself so that you may be able to look after others!
