How To Prevent Disease As We Age: A Guide for Busy Parents

When you’re a busy parent, it can be easy to forget about one of the most important things in your life--your health. Whether you’re too busy taking your kids to and from soccer practice, so you can’t make time for similar exercise-related activities, or the stress of everyday life at the office is grinding on your emotional health over time--it’s something that happens to everyone. But neglecting your health on the daily can have eventually devastating effects, from heart attacks to diabetes. We know it’s hard, but it’s important to make time for your health, even if it’s in small ways every day.

​That’s why we’ve compiled this list of tips. By finding creative ways to stay healthy every day--even if it’s just twenty minutes--you can prevent disease as you age. No matter how busy you are! And here’s how.

Stretch at work--and go for a walk if you can

We all know that sitting is bad for us, but did you know that sitting for long periods of time is deadly? According to DocWire, “sitting for six hours or more each day (defined as prolonged leisure-time sitting) increases the risk of early death by 19 percent, compared with those who sit for fewer than three hours daily. Sitting is linked to 14 diseases that could result in mortality.” Considering that most Americans are at work eight hours every day--and that’s not even counting the hours spent sitting in the car in traffic--most of us are at risk. That’s scary.

If you aren’t able to work remotely from home, think about other creative options. For example, stretch at work. It may look strange, but once you present your colleagues with this info, they’ll probably want to stretch with you every hour, too. Additionally, go for walks during your lunch break, and if you can, get a standing desk.

Hydrate

​Another important part of staying healthy is hydration. 60 percent of a man’s body is made up of water, with the brain and heart made up of 73 percent, the skin 64 percent, and bones (yes, even bones) 31 percent. Women’s bodies are similar, as are babies’. So it’s no surprise that hydrating your body prevents illnesses. Dehydration has a variety of negative effects, including exhaustion, heightened blood pressure and cholesterol, and bad mood. Hydrating, on the other hand, will give you energy, help you lose weight, and give you energy when you’re juggling all your responsibilities.

​It can be hard to make it into a regular habit, but the more you do it, the easier it’ll be to stay hydrated. And the best part? You’ll be teaching your kids about the importance of hydration. Keep bottled waters in the fridge at all times, and during the summer, have spare bottles in the car. Insist that your kids drink water at dinner instead of soda or juice, and keep track of what you drink, so you’re consuming eight eight-ounce servings daily.

Focus on preventative health

​They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away--and even though only apples aren’t going to be enough to keep you healthy, the idea is still valid. Preventative health is highly important because by taking care of ourselves day-to-day and going to doctor’s appointments before things get out of control, we avoid serious health problems later on. This means scheduling yearly visits to the dentist, doctor, and other specialists who might be important in your situation. If any health problems run in your family, it’s a good idea to keep those in check, too.

​Especially when you get a bit older, this is going to make a huge difference. About one in eight women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime, so finding that lump earlier just by doing checks yourself (be sure to do it once a month or so) can save you a lot of hassle and possibly your life. Eating well, keeping your weight in check, and going to the gym regularly (three to five times a week) will make a difference, too.

The best part about focusing on preventative health is that it forces you to practice healthy habits, which your children will in turn learn. That means that when they move out and go to college, and start working at their stressful jobs, they’ll be healthier than most young adults their age.

The best part about focusing on preventative health is that it forces you to practice healthy habits, which your children will in turn learn. That means that when they move out and go to college, and start working at their stressful jobs, they’ll be healthier than most young adults their age.

​These are some of the best ways to stay healthy even when you’re busy parenting. What other strategies do you think would work for you and your family?