Life is easy when you know how to roll with the punches. When things don’t turn out the way you expected them to, you can adapt to your new circumstances without much hassle. You don’t dwell on the things you can’t change, and it makes your life more enjoyable that way.
But there may come a time when an unforeseeable curveball throws you off course — and you don’t know how to move forward. For instance, you can get injured while playing ball with your friends, and you don’t realize that it was much more serious than you thought until it’s too late.
That situation can result in one of two ways: your injury worsens and hinders you from ever playing your favorite sport again, or it worsens, but will eventually get better through time. At the moment, you won’t know how the situation will turn out and you might make the wrong choices, which can leave you with lifelong regrets.
Although these unforeseeable events are beyond your control, there are ways for you to somehow prepare for what’s to come. Of course, this is not to say that you should let the fear of getting injured stop you from playing, but you can minimize the chances of them happening in the first place by prioritizing your health and safety when you can. Here are three tips you can follow:
Practice Preventive Health Care
As someone who’s into sports, you should already know that you’re exposed to some risks that other people aren’t. This can include sports-related injuries, over-exhaustion, and too much physical stress, which can eventually take a toll on your body.
While playing sports may be your way to relieve your stress from work and bond with your friends, it can also be pushing your body beyond its limits. Of course, this doesn’t discount the health benefits that staying active will give you, but the presence of risks should encourage you to be more careful.
A great way to do this is by practicing preventive health care, which is basically just decreasing the burden of diseases even before they manifest themselves. Even in the 21st century, prevention is still better than cure, especially if you have the appropriate means to do it.
Imagine this scenario: after you get home from playing, you experience slight tinges of pain in your muscles but decide that it will pass. However, the pain is still there when you wake up the next morning. Before the situation takes a turn for the worse, call specialists from an acupuncture and osteopath service so that they can work their magic.
Maintain a Proper and Nutritious Diet
Improper diets and unhealthy eating habits are among the most common causes of many health problems today, such as obesity, type-2 diabetes, eating disorders, and mental illnesses, to name a few. Poor nutrition can also lead to chronic stress, which is a silent killer because it deteriorates your body from the inside.
Being active doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will take some work. But if you’re determined to prevent illnesses at their roots, you can start following a more nutritious diet than the one you already have. You can either take the DIY route for this or consult a dietitian regarding what measures you can do to preserve your health.
Switching from an unhealthy diet to a healthier one may be difficult at first, but it’s worth all the effort. You can begin by cutting out empty calories like too much salt and sugar from your diet. Or you can introduce more fruits and vegetables into your food options to gradually make the transition.
Focus on the Bigger Picture
As a self-proclaimed athlete, you have to make sure that you’re prioritizing your overall health and well-being. This doesn’t just pertain to your physical health; it also refers to your mental, emotional, spiritual, and social health. Keep in mind that the other aspects of your well-being are just as important as your physiological condition.
Self-care is not limited to taking care of your body, which you’re already doing by staying active, doing preventive healthcare, and eating nutritious food. You can also practice self-care by allowing yourself to express your feelings and emotions through creative outlets, like art or music.
And while playing sports with your friends can count as socialization, you should also make time to socialize with people in different settings. You can invite your family over for dinner night, go to the movies with your friend, or even spending time with your significant other.
Life shouldn’t only revolve around working and resting. Or in your case, working, playing sports, and resting. You should lead a holistic life that puts a priority on all its aspects instead of just one. This way, you can take control over the things that can be controlled and prepare for what you can’t.
