The key, as with anything, is getting the balance right. However, achieving the right balance is only possible if you have time to check in with yourself. You are the person who knows your body best, so ultimately it’s up to you to keep an eye on your health and keep that balance.
We know it’s not as easy as it sounds. Most of us are being pulled in a hundred different directions at any one time, so finding even a minute in a day to stop and check in with yourself can feel impossible. But it is important, and it’s certainly worth doing, and not just to keep yourself healthy and well; although that’s obviously important, it’s also worth remembering that our health affects others.
The obvious example is if someone falls ill with a cold, they might pass that along to someone else, and cause them to fall ill. However, there are other ways our health (or lack of) can impact others; if you’re a parent, manager, or leader your behaviour might set a bad example for others. We all have relatives who refuse to visit the doctor, even when they really need to, and that behaviour can lead to others adopting the same attitude.
Another way your health can impact others is if you fall ill and they have to care for you. In many cases there is little you can do to prevent falling ill with serious conditions. In this instance our health is largely outside our control. And it’s likely that your loved ones will have no issues with offering care if you do suffer from a serious health emergency. However, there are things we can do to limit the risk of minor illnesses, and prevent ourselves having to rely on others. Caring for our health also means that we can be there for others when they need us.