The younger generation can seize every moment of life — start by investing in your health for a brighter future
Life continues to throw us a ton of obstacles, but we know for ourselves that we are fighters and we don’t just give up. The hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic are a handful, yet we try to find ways to make it work.
The question is, how do we make the most of it?
The struggles of the youth
For us Millennials and Gen Z, we have our own struggles. Some of us have trouble with our identities while others suffer from an existential crisis. This may be due to the deprivation of the opportunities to explore, as quarantines persist.
On top of that, every outdoor activity we enjoy has been adapted online, from classes to meetings to celebrations. This has led to a sedentary kind of living where we do a lot of sitting and lying down, with very little or no exercise.
Ironically, as sedentary as our lifestyles may be, we continue to be busy. We may be physically still but mentally exhausted.
This lifestyle poses a lot of health risks. And as young people with many aspirations and dreams, we need to have every aspect of our being be in shape, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional.
Where should we begin?
The youth as the family’s future
A healthy body and mind can go a long way. We should be able to improve our outlook amid this beautiful yet challenging experience we call life. What comes with this is not just our own growth and success, but the welfare of our loved ones who have been there for us along the way.
As the eldest in our family, I can very much attest to this. My parents have provided for my two sisters and me for our whole lives and now, it’s my turn to give back and help them with the increasing cost of living in this unpredictable economy.
It’s important to note, however, that I do this not out of obligation, but out of love. I do believe that I should focus on myself as I grow up but, personally, I desire a better future for me and my family collectively. I hold not only my own but also their future.
To do that, I must be able to hold myself together mentally, emotionally, and of course, physically. I need to look after my health in every aspect.
As we look deeper into our responsibilities and desires such as a brighter tomorrow for ourselves and our families, we must take action and look at ways to prepare for it. Fortunately, we have options.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle and GoWell
We all know that exercise is good for the body. It boosts our endurance and helps us do all the activities we enjoy. But did you know that it can help your mind, too?
This is great news especially for our generation, which has learned to grasp the idea of taking care of one’s mental health.
Exercise relieves tension and stress and can help you release endorphins or happy hormones. It helps relax the muscles and boosts both physical and mental energy. In fact, regular exercise can help with stress, anxiety, ADHD, and even mild to moderate depression.
I was looking for videos on the web for fitness routines I can do, preferably something convenient because I do not only work during the daytime, but I am also in charge of various house chores.
If you’re in the same boat, a suggestion I can give is Sun Life’s GoWell. They have a lot of exercise videos from yoga to explosive bodyweight workouts. You can check their free workout videos here.
Having a fallback in case of emergencies
If this pandemic has taught us anything important, it is to always be ready for everything, especially medical emergencies.
For most of us, almost every penny that we earn is already allotted for something. As such, sudden trips to the hospital can be very stressful. This hits home because my sister suffers from rheumatic heart disease. It is one of the causes of my anxiety when I think about the future. I’ve always felt anxious not only about her welfare but also about the unimaginable amount of money we will need to keep her safe.
You can prevent yourself from having to go through the stress that prevents you from enjoying life better. To address this, you can regularly save small amounts and look into health protection plans that can act as our partner for such instances.
The additional expense for this may seem troublesome at first, but once it will definitely be very helpful in the long run. That’s because should any health emergency happen in the future, it will keep your hard-earned savings intact and prevent you from needing to borrow from friends and family.
For me, the best thing about having a health protection plan is that you can focus on getting better. There will be no need to search for financial aid because medical bills will already be taken care of by the plan.
The future may be uncertain but we can always prepare for it and be protected
A quote I always remember is one from Newt Scamander in the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
“My philosophy is that worrying means you suffer twice.”
I relate to that on a personal level. Since I overthink about the future a lot, it will be very helpful if I am ready for what tomorrow brings.
Having a partner to guide me has always reduced my worrying because it means I am not alone. And that’s exactly what health protection plans do—be your partner. You can pair that with maintaining a healthy mind and body.
Achieving a healthy lifestyle is very much possible if you want to fully accept the beauty of living. You will have all the means to do the things you desire, free from any kind of restraint.
Having good health is the key to a wonderful life. As they say, life without health is basically food without taste. How you treat your health today foretells what your future holds. Investing in it means you will reap all its benefits. You can live without worries because you know you are protected.
Go ahead and take the first step. Visit https://www.sunlife.com.ph/en/insurance/health-protection/ to find out why partnering with Sun Life and securing a health protection plan is worth it.
