Avoiding substance abuse includes steering clear of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, or other substances that can interfere with the way your body and mind functions. Physically well individuals practice temperance when they do drink, shun cigarette smoking, avoid illegal drugs, and don’t misuse prescription drugs.

Eating a balanced diet of vegetables, fruit, proteins, and carbohydrates provides necessary fuel and nutrients to your muscles, organs, and bones. Physically well individuals who eat right also think more clearly, have more energy, and fight off sickness more easily.

Balanced physical activity is critical to maintaining physical wellness, as a lopsided approach (for example, too much strength training and not enough stretching) can cause muscle stiffness, stress to bones, impeded cardiovascular health, or permanent harm to joints. Physically well individuals improve flexibility, agility and cardiovascular health in addition to strength!

Knowing your limits can be as important as working out, as it protects your body from the excess stress of working out too much. Physical wellness means listening to your body for warning signs of injury and allowing yourself sufficient time to recover and rest after a workout.

Taking care of yourself if you’re sick is as much a preventative measure as it is a facet of physical wellness. Getting proper rest and necessary medical attention when feeling ill promotes faster healing and reduces the likelihood of a chronic condition. And remember: practicing safe also counts as taking care of yourself!

Regular check-ups are an integral part of physical health, and often rewarded by insurance as a means of preventative medicine. Physically well individuals foster an open, honest relationship with their primary care or family physician, ensuring they are always informed and on top of their physical well being.