We all have some bad habits. Many of these affect our health – both physically and mentally. This Independence Day, we posed a question to our contributors - Are there any unhealthy habits that you would like to break free from? And received a range of interesting responses.
What are the unhealthy habits you want to free yourself of?
1) Imran Mohammad Ali - Thalassemia Major
I think if I have to pick the unhealthy habits I would like to be free of, they would be overthinking - sometimes, eating junk and not exercising at all.
2) Radhika - on her quest to lose weight and be healthy
I want to lose weight and be healthy. I want to quit the unhealthy habit of having dinner after 7pm.
3) Kavita Behl - Gout arthritis
I want to give up sweets!! It is my weakness. I have reduced sweets consumption but I am still tempted. Find it difficult to resist
4) Ankita Bardhan - Type 1 Diabetes
Food habits need to be good in my case. I don't really have an option. I would like to get rid of my hotheadedness. Be a little more patient. If possible, I would like to be free of my Type 1 diabetes condition.
5) Yogini Mehta - on wanting to live a healthy life
Eating healthy is important. But your health depends on your thought process. Firstly, I would stop being judgemental. Secondly, I would eliminate negativity in my thoughts. Negativity will not let one be happy and this affects health. Living with positivity makes you healthier than just eating good food. Though difficult, this is not impossible.
6) Jyoti Ronghe - Multiple Sclerosis
I want to minimise use of plastic especially bags and toothbrushes, disposable goods and reduce water wastage.
7) Marianne de Nazareth - Diabetes
Single use plastic is an issue I would definitely like control of in my life. Carry my own steel boxes and mugs and, of course, shopping bags to cut back firmly in my life and my families too. If each of us did that the enormous plastic thrown out as trash could be reduced significantly. Cleaning up the garbage problem in our cities can help making them more hygienic and prevent the spread of diseases like dengue and chikangunya.
8) Arvind Sanghvi - Multiple Sclerosis
I am suffering from Multiple Sclerosis from 1992. From 1992 to 1995 I was admitted to hospital several times and only steroids helped me with temporary recovery. In 1995 my condition was critical and I lost my hearing too. What helped me recover was yoga, health club, cycling, and aquatic exercises. Now I workout 5 to 6 hours everyday and these exercises helped me to improve my health. After 1996, there was no episode and no steroids was taken till today. If you have total management on exercise and diet, life can move smoothly with the help of yoga, exercise and a healthy diet. I am so confident today that I can live happily and fit for another 15-20 years.
9) Madhavi Latha Prathigudupu - Polio linked paralysis
I always love to support my fellow beings to the extent possible for me. I love my job too. Hence I need to manage my profession, social work and my home. With regard to social work, almost all the projects I have been working are quite challenging. I have been facing many challenges due to inaccessibility, the perception of society towards the disabled and funding related challenges, etc. Due to multitasking and above-mentioned challenges, my mind is always busy thinking about so many things. No rest for brain! Recently I started meditation after meeting my Yoga Therapist. After I began practicing yoga and meditation, my tranquil mind is becoming more focused than earlier. Now I strongly decided to continue yoga including meditation (including aqua yoga) on regular basis. Generally if any one speaks about fitness, people will start thinking about physical fitness. But we need to give equal importance for mental fitness too. For that, I strongly feel yoga is the best option !!
10) Vinita Menon - Multiple Myeloma
Do I want to change????
Change is beneficial for the better but, on the other hand, when you think of change and wanting to change, one immediately backs out. It’s a comfort zone, which gives you a security blanket, then how and why change? To move forward you need to make changes; lifestyles, behavioral patterns, maybe negative thought processes which affect your growth as an individual. So, do I feel the need to change or do I want to change!! When I go through my present thought process and one can be critical of one's behavior, my list seems endless.
Overthinking, procrastination, letting go of hurt, time management; can think of many more.
The next thought that came to my mind was why do I feel that change will change me. No, I like being where I am, I realized that if I had to grow and evolve then change is a must a challenge to be better than yesterday and a challenge for tomorrow. So what will I want to change to learn to be able to let go and be more comfortable with myself, be a better listener, be at times more in the present. For me, due to my journey with Multiple Myeloma, change has been inevitable, but sometimes you see behavioral patterns that are detrimental that need to change, one being I need to exercise more and organize my life better, prioritize more to smoothen my coming journey. Change is a constant and a must to grow, once you are aware that it is needed, to step ahead in your journey of life.
So, what are the unhealthy habits you want to free yourself of?
