Health Now or Disease Later?

I saw this quote today and thought it was very appropriate for some of what we confront in the health field. The saying is: "If you do not make time for health you will eventually have to make time for disease." I believe this quote is appropriate for both mental and physical health - that how we spend our time living our lives now directly influences how we will live our lives later. I regularly speak about the benefits of routine mental health practices - - adequate sleep, taking time out for calm / relaxation (such as with yoga, meditation, or prayer), setting boundaries around our most important commitments while ridding our lives of unnecessary distractions, etc - - and how they can impact optimal mental health functioning. Physical health practices, such as regular low-impact exercise, appropriate nutrition and hydration, good posture and abstinence from smoking and excessive alcohol use can also directly influence our bodies and quality of life.

Although I have no scientific evidence supporting this next assertion, I believe that the amount of time we spend focusing on good health now is a more efficient use of our time compared to dealing with diseases later. Furthermore, placing our efforts on good physical and mental health practices today may be enjoyable!!!! [Seriously, have you ever seen anyone enjoy going to dialysis, having radiation / chemotherapy, or suffering through heart disease?]

Ask yourself, "What am I doing regularly now to help maintain good health or even improve my health for later?"