Young people often seem to get away with so many health indiscretions: poor eating habits terrible sleeping patterns lack of exercise. They can seemingly live on nothing but diet soda and still look great feel great and function great (except in the morning maybe).

Adults have no such luck. Years of self-neglect take their toll. Eventually most people pay a price and when they do so do their loved ones.

What It Takes

One’s inborn constitution is determined on High and is part of one’s destiny here on earth. However no matter where one starts — with vulnerable genes or hardy ones — a person has the responsibility to take good care of him or herself.

Of course one can be obsessed with healthy foods or stringent health care routines and still become ill. There are no certainly guarantees that one’s efforts will bear the desired fruits. However this fact does not exempt us from doing our best.

Although doctors and scientists may be mistaken about what contributes to good health the best we can do in every generation is apply the current state of knowledge. If we know today for example that smoking can lead to deadly disease then today we need to apply that knowledge to our self-care regime.

We’re In It Together

Whether or not we do a mitzvah has ramifications for the entire Jewish people the world at large and even the universe. Yet we often experience ourselves as independent individuals failing to appreciate our true interconnectedness with others and the cosmos.

When it comes to matters of health however interconnectedness becomes obvious. My colds and flus are catchy; everyone I live with is vulnerable to my germs. If I’m sick because I didn’t dress warmly enough didn’t sleep enough and forgot to take my vitamins for a few years then everyone I live with may have to pay for it.

Even if I did everything possible to prevent getting sick my sickness still impacts on my family. My family members may have to tend to me do without my usual contributions pay for my medications and treatments and otherwise adapt their own schedules around my illness. Often such a scenario is Hashem’s will — something that couldn’t have been avoided by personal effort. At times however self-neglect is a contributing factor.

Doing Our Best for Ourselves and Our Families

The mitzvah of caring for our bodies involves simple routines and cautions. Yet many people have great difficulty following them. People have trouble getting into bed on time even though their nasty mood and poorer functioning may affect the quality of their lives and their relationships. They have trouble finding time for exercise and stress reduction strategies even though the lack of such activities can negatively affect mood health and relationships. And cutting back on favorite foods and beverages can be extremely challenging even though one might know that their consumption leads to migraines digestive issues arthritis heart conditions or diabetes.

As difficult as all these self-care activities may be however married people need to recognize their value for the marriage as well as for personal well-being.

When a married person neglects to care for his or her mental and physical health that person’s spouse is strongly affected. In addition to being involved in any health care consequences of personal neglect the spouse may actually feel abandoned by his or her partner. Spouses of smokers drinkers and overeaters may worry for decades about the potentially serious consequences of these behaviors. A married person risks not only his or her own well-being but also that of his or her spouse and children.

Sometimes we find it too hard to make self-care changes for our own sake. If so perhaps we can do it for those we love and those who love us. Our families need us to be healthy vibrant and present — they need us to be around for a very long time. Taking good care of ourselves is a way of taking good care of them a way of being an excellent partner and parent.

Making time to apply beneficial health practices is an investment with guaranteed results: improved energy better mood more strength and improved immunity that will help us enjoy life and prosper from it to the fullest. By removing destructive habits and installing healthy ones you can create a new improved you — one that will benefit both you and your family.