North Carolina Divorce Lawyers BlogMen’s Health During Separation
June is Men’s Health Month, and after a messy separation you may imagine that health is not a priority. To help raise awareness of the topic, here are a few tips to get the mind and body back on the right track. After all, it can take a lot of energy to withstand the ups and downs of a contentious divorce case.
Five Tips for Men’s Health
Tip 1: Eat right. Heart disease, believe it or not, is the primary killer of men. If you are anything like me, you are prone to stress eat. Try to avoid it. Eating the right kinds of fruits, vegetables, and grains will work to prevent heart disease. Sugars and processed foods will not. Those foods are specially formulated to hit every craving, especially when one is stressed or distressed by a looming divorce. Instead, try reaching for the almonds and carrot sticks. If you make it a habit, it will help in the long run.
Tip 2: Move. Move around; get physical. You may have heard the advice: delete Facebook, lawyer up, hit the gym? Well, this is the hit the gym part, except that you don’t actually have to go lift weights. Just find some time to do pushups or walk the dog an extra mile. If you have kids, go chase them around the park or take them out to play some basketball. Find a way to fit in just 10-30 minutes of exercise and your mind and body will thank you in the long run.
Tip 3: See your doctor regularly. If you are young, congratulations. We old folks need to drag our bodies to see the doc for annual checkups. We have to face the music; our bodies are not what they used to be. We can’t eat like we used to, we can’t play like we used to, and we can’t recover like we used to. Screenings and checkups will detect abnormalities while they are still preventable or highly treatable. It can be uncomfortable, and it can be awkward, and something about it just doesn’t seem necessary. But it is. The more you can build trust with your physician, the better your health will be.
Tip 4: Seek help. Mental health, physical health, physical training, dietician. Whatever it is, look to experts for advice and training on how to get your body right. Even if you’re just picking up a new hobby to pass some free time, talk to some experts and help yourself grow.
Tip 5: Look to be the role model. If you have young children, it’s time to step up. Teach them good health habits and lead by example. Exercise, choose foods that are not unhealthy, and show them a wide array of hobbies and activities that engage all aspects of the mind and body. Sports, science, discovery, adventure. Whatever it is, realize that your children automatically look up to you. In the midst of a divorce, you have to set a great example. Not only is it good for your health, but sports are also a great bonding moment with the kids.