As we take time this month to honor those dads and those who step in as dads when needed, I want to reiterate the importance of self-care for those loving fathers. Too often they get caught up in taking care of others and culturally—we don’t value self-care for men. Sure there are plenty of ads promoting physical fitness, and masculine virility but not so much on taking time to nurture their emotional and social well-being. Social isolation is one of the biggest factors indicating a shorter lifespan for men! Healthy relationships with other men promote decreased depression and anxiety and increased overall wellness. We should be more supportive of these friendships!
Men are more likely than women to suffer from unaddressed emotional traumas as well. This stigma about male mental health is damaging—not only to all of our fathers and father figures but damaging to the boys who will grow into men and fathers in the future. One of the best ways to promote self-care in the next generation is to model it in ourselves. Acupuncture can be a great way to deal with emotional as well as physical issues. And unlike many other approaches, talking about their trauma details is not necessary for effective treatment.
And self-care isn’t just sitting on the back porch with a beer and running the grill for the family. It’s taking time to connect with others who are important to you, whether it’s family members or friends—and to develop those relationships where they don’t exist. Self-care is spending some portion of each day doing something that you love without any expectation of being productive. Many years ago, one of the department heads on my first ship was an ardent maker of rugs. He would take all of his gear on deployment and every underway…and spend at least five or 10 minutes each day working on his latest creation! He caught a lot of flack for this artistic endeavor, especially since it wasn’t anything that could be sold (because to be honest they weren’t that “good” from a technical perspective and it was gasp—what some would consider “girly” art). But I learned something from his persistence and determination in seeking his own happiness and well-being. It was not about doing what was technically “right” or pleasing someone else. It was about spending some time each day doing something he loved. It was evident he was one of the happier, more productive officers on the ship. His kids also felt free to pursue whatever creative endeavors struck their fancy. We should’ve embraced these types of endeavors for the entire crew. So find something that you love to do simply for the sake of doing it!
Lastly, for reasons, I don’t fully understand—men seem to struggle more with nutrition than women. It is almost like there’s a collective denial about their mortality and the need to take better care of themselves. Certainly, this is not all men—and I do see more lately taking the time to learn how to eat well and take care of themselves beyond just hitting the gym. But for those who aren’t quite ready to embrace that level of change yet, I do recommend some basic supplementation for better health to fill those nutritional gaps. These are supplements that will support better cardiovascular and metabolic health. In addition, there are some healthier options for electrolyte drinks and meal replacement than the standard grocery store offerings. They may cost a little more per serving, but the long-term benefit is a worthwhile investment!
For those guys struggling with their health, nutritional counseling is available with Fielding and he has an excellent success rate helping guys figure out a better way to eat while losing excess weight while gaining more energy and better sleep!
A full list of supplements is also available on our Fullscript for easy ordering— here are some highlights:
And as always, if you have a specific health concern, you can book an herbal consultation with JennyMarie
