International Men’s Health Week: Small Steps to Improve Men’s Health
From Monday 11th June to Sunday 17th June, we celebrate International Men’s Health Week. This year’s theme is centred on the words of Astronaut Neil Armstrong, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
To mark the occasion in Cpl Healthcare, we asked a number of our male colleagues to share what small step they have taken to improve their health this year.
Niall McDevitt, Managing Director, Cpl Healthcare
I am 38 years old and as I get older, I’ve become much more conscious of my overall health and how I take care of myself. This year, I have decided to take on the challenge of running a marathon. I am now four months into training and am thoroughly enjoying the regular exercise. The knock-on effect has been great, my sleeping is better, I am thinking clearer and have much more energy. The positive impact kicked in almost immediately. My advice is to set your goal and take it one step at a time to achieve it.
Paolo Lodi, International Sourcing Specialist, Cpl Healthcare
My small step to improve men’s health is going to be encouraging my own network to get active. I always try to show my friends how beneficial it is to do any physical movement each day. We don’t need to work out for hours to improve the quality of our life: we just need to do some activity every day. Regularity is what makes the difference! In line with this idea, I’ve also started cycling to work. This daily physical exercise offers me the chance to keep my body trained and healthy. And it’s also beneficial for my mind: I strongly believe in the Latins’ idea mens sana in corpore sano, a healthy mind in a healthy body.
Alan Duffy, Graphic Designer, Cpl Healthcare
Back in January I decided to get back in the saddle and cycle to work at least 3 days a week. It was tough at first but not even the storms and the snow could stop me! It’s been 6 months now and I’ve never felt better.
The health benefits of exercise, both physical and mental, cannot be overestimated. Physically, I’m fitter, healthier and more flexible. Mentally, the process of not thinking about anything except getting where I need to go is incredibly meditative. The energy, otherwise wasted on potential anxiety about the day, has been spent and helps me to adopt a calmer state of mind.
Self care is hugely important in any person’s life. Even in this day and age, men are still less inclined to admit they need to improve their physical and mental health. Exercise is hugely beneficial for mind and body so get out there and get moving, men!
Kevin Kelly, Senior Recruitment Consultant, Cpl Healthcare
Since the start of the year, I’ve started to make a real effort to increase my physical activity. This is not always easy with two young kids at home. Jogging is something that I enjoy a lot. Being based in an office environment, with artificial lighting and air conditioning, it is great to get out in the evenings to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. I try to get out jogging every other night for somewhere between 30-50 minutes. One super initiative I used this year in my quest to get back running, was Parkrun. These take place every Saturday in parks all around the world, with 77 locations in Ireland alone. The goal of parkrun is to promote inclusiveness and wellbeing through their free, weekly 5km timed runs. The events welcome runners at all levels from trained athletes to individuals who have never ran in their life. I would definitely recommend checking them out.
Learn more about the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland
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