Why is physical health important in personal security?
Our health is important. I think we all recognize that as a factual piece of information, but too often only in the abstract sense. When it comes to personal security, your physical health and fitness is imperative. In fact, it could be argued that your physical health is the very first line of defense for personal security.
Before taking a martial arts class, upgrading your EDC, or working on your situational awareness, your first priority should be to make sure your body is prepared and able to function well. You can’t take care of others if you don’t first take care of yourself.
Let’s take a look at three key ways your health affects your personal security.
1. Sleep
There are many studies out there on the importance of sleep and yet it seems to be highly undervalued. Lack of sleep can disproportionately affect your ability to function. It doesn’t just slow you down physically – it slows you down mentally as well. A chronically sleep-deprived individual can be just as hazardous to themselves and others as someone who is impaired by alcohol. The reverse however, a solid 8 hours of sleep every night, can have an exponentially positive impact on your performance throughout the day.
2. Diet
Too often this is about what you can’t eat. I prefer to think in more positive terms of what you should eat. We need to make sure we are getting healthy proteins, plenty of fruits and vegetables (all the colors and probably more than you think), the good kinds of grains, and lots water (seriously – it’s amazing the difference this makes both physically and mentally). It is also important to connect what and how you eat with your level of physical activity. Eating healthy is only half the battle. Which leads us to…
3. Physical Fitness
Get active. If we are going to be successful at all in keeping ourselves and those around us safe then this is important. You are not going to be able to run from or towards trouble if you are not running in normal life. You are not going to protect yourself from a physical aggressor if you are not practicing martial arts or self-defense (on a regular basis – not a one and done training). Keeping our bodies active and practicing what we might need to do is critical to being prepared for whatever security risks come our way.
Now Do It!
Now, this is not a health website and I’m not going to recommend specific fitness regimens or eating programs. Go out there and find what works for you – but be sure to make this a priority. Get plenty of sleep, feed your body well, and get active. Be ready for whatever life throws at you by taking care of yourself. Others will depend on you, so get after it!
