Age has never really been a thing with me. That is to say, it has never really affected my mood or disposition. I’ve always had self-confidence and never struggled with the idea of getting older.
That is, until I turned 40 in March.
I thought I was prepared, but apparently not — my birthday came and knocked me down a peg. Maybe it was the uptick in aches and pains or the slower recovery after a night out, or perhaps it was my thinning hair. Whatever the case, 40 did a number on me.
As I said, I knew it was coming, and I thought I was ready for my fourth decade, but I was still struck with insecurity and low self-esteem related to this big milestone. Thankfully, 40 is the new 30 — or at least that’s what I keep telling myself — and there are things I can do to be healthier and feel better about my overall well-being.
Recently, I met with my primary care physician for a physical and found out that, for the most part, everything appeared normal. Sometimes I get obsessed with normal. In fact, after both of my girls were born, I asked that very question. “Does everything look normal?” My blood pressure and heart rate were good, and, after a comfortable and reassuring dialogue with my doctor, I left feeling better about 40 and my health in general. It was also a Friday, so that could have had something to do with my upbeat demeanor.
A few years back when I worked at Church Health, I was constantly being reminded of healthy tips and life hacks I could do to increase steps, drink more water, reduce stress, and more. Now that I work for myself and I’m running around like a chicken with its head cut off, I’m harkening back to some of those reminders and tips I learned long ago.
Church Health uses the Model for Healthy Living, a guide for all people to reach their highest level of wellness. The model includes seven pie wedges — faith, movement, work, emotions, nutrition, medical, and friends & family — and its main goal is to encourage people to live a balanced, healthy life by taking into consideration these seven areas of focus.
For me, it was nice to have a guide to follow and refer back to when one area seemed out of whack. For example, if my nutrition was lacking, I could turn to my exercise and movement for encouragement. On any given month, my typical model with internal goals could look something like this:
Faith Life – Going to church, but could pray more.
Movement – Playing soccer, but could walk the dog more.
Medical – Need to schedule that dentist appointment.
Work – Stop working once you get home from work. This is family time!
Emotional – It’s OK to share honest feelings with your closest friends and family.
Nutrition – Drink more water and reduce sodium and fat intake. Hot wings just once a month.
Friends & Family – Boundaries are important. Set them and follow them.
These days while time is tighter and busier than ever before, I find myself starting to refer back to these areas of health to see where I can make improvements. It’s likely more important now than ever.
For more information about Church Health’s Model for Healthy Living, visit churchhealth.org.
Jeff Hulett is a freelance writer, musician, and PR consultant in Memphis. He lives in the Vollintine Evergreen neighborhood with his wife Annie, two girls Ella and Beatrice, and two dogs Chalupa and Princess Freckles.