What Healthy Living and Higher Education Have in Common

By Mikkie Mills

There’s a notable link between what you eat versus what grades you get at school, what lifestyle you live versus which job position you assume later on in life. In a nutshell, there’s an undeniable connection between healthy living and higher education. And while most people go about their lives not noticing this tether, those who do understand it can leverage it towards making a better life for themselves. Here’s five ways how healthy living and higher education are connected and what you can do to improve.

Healthy Social Function

Healthy living and higher education both play key roles in a person’s ability to function socially. A physically and mentally healthy person is at a position to conduct experiments and participate in activities that can potentially benefit society. They are also less prone to making decisions that could jeopardize others around them. To improve one’s social capabilities, regular application of social skills are important. Theory is one thing, but only real world situations can keep people mentally sharp.

Higher Life Expectancy

It’s a widely recognized fact that life expectancy has to do with healthy living. And to be able to afford the healthcare services and the healthy lifestyle that promotes this higher life expectancy, one must be able to get a good job. Higher education is key to getting a good-paying job. A high school diploma is no longer enough nowadays to compete in highly saturated job markets. To put this into perspective, let’s look at some numbers. At age 25, Americans without a high school diploma are expected to live 9 years less than those with an undergraduate degree, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Another study shows that occurrence of diabetes was eight percent higher for adults without a high school education.

Better Ability to Navigate Around Life

Healthy living and higher education enables you to navigate around complex aspects of life, such as healthcare, taxes, money management, family management, etc. College graduates and those pursuing their master’s degrees are much better at learning and mastering things they encounter on a daily basis. They have the temperament to handle situations they have little to no knowledge about because they are confident that they can learn the steps to effectively use it later on. In other words, people who are mentally and financially healthy are able to absorb worldly information better than those without these attributes. To improve, read more books and keep applying the theories you learn to real world scenarios.

Better Environment

People who obtain higher education and better-paying job have a better chance of living in neighborhoods that provide a bigger and cleaner space. They have more access to parks, sidewalks, yards, and other facilities that can be used for recreational purposes or entrepreneurial pursuits. More space equates to better mood and stress levels, which ultimately contribute to lower risk of heart problems and other physical ailments that commonly befall those who live in heavily dense communities.

Access to More Services

A better job means more disposable cash for services, such as organic food delivery, local gym membership, and private schooling for your children. Access to these services can potentially yield a healthier lifestyle. For instance, organic food deliveries means you can eat fresh produce that haven’t been washed down by chemicals. To improve this particular aspect of life, learn to prepare and cook meals that are rich in protein, carbohydrates, and minerals that you need.

Healthy living and higher education definitely go hand in hand. Poor lifestyle can lead to bad grades, which can lead to a low-income job after high school. Try to balance out the two by planning not just your immediate needs and wants, but the long-term initiative as well.

Mikkie is a freelance writer from Chicago. She has a passion for advanced learning, reading, and health and fitness. She is also a mother of two who loves sharing her ideas on education, learning, health, fitness and yoga. When she’s not writing, she’s chasing the little ones around or can be found at the local climbing gym or doing yoga.