The pillars of good health: What you should focus on first 

Last Updated on August 21, 2025 by Grace Oluchi

Understanding the pillars of good health will save you time from doing what is unnecessary. It’ll help you focus on what is important and improve your general health. 

There are so many things people tell you online, cause there’s always one trend or another. However, you 8don’t need to do too much, you just need to know where to direct your attention and energy. 

The Pillars Of Good Health

Nutrition

This is one of the many things you need to be intentional about. Having good nutrition can improve your physical, mental, and emotional health. Eat foods that are healthy and balanced.

We’ve got:

• fish
• chicken
• tofu
• sweet potatoes
• yams
• oatmeal
• bananas
• berries
• rice
• whole wheat bread
• berries
• kale 
• spinach 
• Apples
• Cucumbers 

We could go on and on, but you get the point. 

Good nutrition is part of the pillars of good health, and understanding how to eat healthy will help you live a better life.

Hydration

What is life without water?

Make water your health bestie. It’s not just for talks; water is really important, and so is staying hydrated. 

Although you don’t need to drink too much, it’s not even good to do so, but you should drink enough water. It’s what matters.

 People are different; you might need to drink more water than someone else. The amount of water you need can depend on things like:

• the weather conditions you’re in

• your age

• weight

• level of activity

And just how your body works in general. 

Some people need to drink more water, while some don’t, but that’s fine. You know what matters? Keeping your body hydrated so things flow better. 

Physical activity

It’s good to go to the gym, you know, exercise, but you also need to move your body throughout the day. Not just for a session. It can be 

• brisk walking
• dancing
• hiking
• cleaning
• gardening
• playing a sport

The important thing is to move your body. 

It’s possible to go to the gym regularly, but still be sedentary. So, make an effort to do things that get your body moving. 

Sleep is also a part of the pillars of health 

Getting enough sleep is one of the best ways to take care of your body. Without sleep, you wouldn’t be able to do much. 

Neither will you have the energy to. 

Don’t joke with sleep, YOU NEED sleep. 

Studies suggest that you get 7-9 hours of sleep. 

But this may not be possible for everyone to achieve; there’s work, and so many other things that may keep you up.

But, you’ve got to try to get some rest, at least during the day, and go to bed as early as you can. 

Managing Stress (another key part of your health)

The things stress can do to a person are not something to play about. It is very important to manage stress. 

Meditation can help you manage stress, yoga too, going outside to see what’s going on and breathe some fresh air, deep breathing, or spending time doing things you like. 

Your mental health 

Don’t forget to take care of your mind and heart.  Most times, people tend to focus on fitness and their physical health, when their mental health needs attention too.

It is so important, and can affect how you think, feel, and act. Which is why you shouldn’t go about your day, week, month, or even year, without regularly checking how you’re doing mentally. 

Mental health is part of the pillars of health, so try to practice self-care, remember that YOU exist. You have feelings and emotions that should be taken care of. 

So, be honest about your lifestyle, see what areas of your life need improvement, and start working towards them. You can start with two pillars at least, and go from there.