Although it is a difficult concept to explain, most people intuitively understand what quality of life is. In other words, although the meaning of quality of life is sometimes not obvious to some people, its notion is clear to everyone. Most people relate quality of life to “feeling good”. In fact, this notion of quality of life goes against the main factors that influence it, as we will see later, which are health, work and the environment. But after all, what does it mean to have quality of life? If the answer to this question is important, certainly what we are all looking for and what we will address throughout this article will be the central question: how to improve the quality of life? The concept of quality of life is very comprehensive, it includes not only physical health but also the psychological state, the level of independence, social relationships at home, school and work and even your relationship with the environment. In fact, there are naturally other factors that influence it, but let's start by seeing what quality of life means, for the World Health Organization (WHO). The concept of quality of life is directly associated with self-esteem and personal well-being and comprises several aspects, namely functional capacity, socioeconomic level, emotional state, social interaction, intellectual activity, self-care , family support, health status, cultural, ethical and religious values, lifestyle, satisfaction with employment and/or daily activities and the environment in which one lives. For the WHO, the definition of quality of life is “the perception that an individual has about their position in life, within the context of the culture and value systems in which they are inserted and in relation to their objectives, expectations, standards and concerns.” This is a definition that considers the influence of physical and psychological health, level of independence, social relationships, personal beliefs and their relationships with characteristics inherent to the respective environment in the subjective assessment of individual quality of life. In this sense, we can state that quality of life is defined as the “individual’s satisfaction with regard to their daily life”.
We must not confuse quality of life with standard of living. Many people have the wrong notion of quality of life, confusing the terms. Standard of living is a measure that calculates the quality and quantity of goods and services available.
Quality of life and health are inseparable terms. Quality of life is so closely associated with health that many authors do not distinguish them from one another. For them, health and quality of life are the same thing. In fact, health is not the only factor that influences our quality of life, however it is of central importance. Generally, health and quality of life are two very related topics, since health contributes to improving the quality of life of individuals and this is fundamental for an individual or community to be healthy. But it doesn't just mean physical and mental health, but that these people are at peace not only with themselves, but also with life, with the people around them, in short, having quality of life means being in harmony with several factors. With regard to health, quality of life is often considered in terms of how it can be negatively affected, i.e. the occurrence of a debilitating disease that is not life-threatening, a disease that is life-threatening of life, the natural decline in the health of an elderly person, mental decline, chronic disease processes, etc. All of these situations emasculate our quality of life. In this sense, a healthy life has a profound impact on people's quality of life.
Quality of life and physical health- Physical health obviously affects our quality of life. For example, there is a relationship between physical activity, improved health status and quality of life. Likewise, there is a relationship between correct nutrition and quality of life. Quality of life and healthy eating are concepts that are strictly related. Having a healthy and balanced diet is fundamental to an individual's well-being. When the body receives the ideal amounts of nutrients and vitamins it needs, its physical health improves and consequently the quality of life increases. In short, if we can improve our physical health condition towards a healthier life, through correct health promotion, then we will be able to improve our quality of life.
Quality of life and mental health - The concept of quality of life has increasingly gained increasing importance in the field of mental health and healthcare, increasing its importance in medical discourse and practice. It is no coincidence that the definition given by the WHO for health is broad. She defines it as “the state of complete physical and mental well-being”. Many times, when thinking about health and quality of life, some people leave mental health aside. However, mental health is of enormous importance today. We are witnessing an increase in cases of chronic stress and burnout, anxiety and depression, in addition to many other psychological and emotional problems. A person with poor mental health, depressed, for example, has great difficulty maintaining romantic relationships, performing their duties at work and even educating their children. A person with emotional problems can influence all family members. A person with affected mental health is more prone to drug and alcohol dependence, contracting infectious diseases, developing allergies, autoimmune diseases, etc. There are, however, many other harmful consequences when we neglect mental and emotional health and well-being.
Taking care of your mental health is much simpler than it seems, you just need to maintain good relationships with the people around you, have a satisfactory love life, don't dwell on past problems, don't be too demanding on yourself, forgive yourself and others, laugh whenever you can, cry when you need to and love. If you experience difficulty doing this, it is best to seek help from a professional. Being in good mental health means being in balance with your inner world and the world around you, being at peace with yourself and others. Stress is currently a serious problem with unquestionable implications for quality of life. The problems will be more intense depending on the level of stress to which the individual is subject, the causes that gave rise to it and the symptoms perceived.
Environment and quality of life - The environment brings several benefits to man, one of which is, without a doubt, improving their quality of life. The quality of life and environment are, therefore, two inseparable terms. The environment concerns everything that surrounds us, so our quality of life is directly associated with the quality of the surrounding environment. In this way, the preservation of the environment is an important factor in increasing people's quality of life. As an example, imagine a city with a lot of trash, a lot of pollution and no green spaces. Certainly, they will be factors, on the one hand, capable of causing illness and, on the other hand, they do not produce feelings of well-being in people. A practitioner of physical activity, for example, when he chooses to do so in a green space, combines the benefits of physical exercise with a place of fresh air, making his activity much more pleasant and healthy. When a person has a massage and can simultaneously enjoy the sounds of nature, they can get even more out of their moment of relaxation.
Today more than ever, we notice that there is a growing concern for men so that they can have a quality life. Among several other factors, it is necessary to preserve and respect the environment to guarantee our quality of life. To achieve this, we must have more assertive and protective attitudes, in order to make our habitat better both for ourselves and for future generations. It is, above all, when we talk about the environment that we become aware that we are living organisms that are in harmony with nature. Our quality of life depends on the state the environment is in, that is, we need air, water, food, essential elements for survival, which is why it is essential to have an ecologically balanced environment and ensure its sustainability. In this way, the quality of life depends on the quality of the environment, moreover, it does not mean quantity of life, and there must therefore be an emphasis on the appreciation and meaning of existence, which must take into account the needs that all human beings feel to live with dignity. Nor can we talk about health disconnected from the environment, as whenever we improve the environment we will be protecting human physical and mental health.
Quality of life at work - It is no coincidence that many companies and organizations today are concerned about the quality of life at work. As we know, we spend a lot of our time at work. We often spend more time in contact with our co-workers than even with our own family. For these reasons, quality of life at work has come to be seen as fundamental in modern times. When we refer to work, we refer to activities carried out in companies, organizations, at school, etc. The worker's quality of life is generally observed taking into account the quality of life in companies and their productivity, but also in aspects of the worker's life not directly linked to their work. However, some recent controversies use the terminology “worker's quality of life”, making it clear that quality of life is not limited only to the place and time of work, but also to the relationship with several other aspects, namely, personal satisfaction, family relationships, leisure opportunities, etc.
What is quality of life at work? When we talk about quality of life at work, we mean to refer to the benefits and harms of the work environment for the individual. The goal is to develop work environments that are as supportive for both the individual and the economic health of the organization.
Concept of quality of life at work - As we have seen, quality of life is an expression that refers to man's living conditions, in several areas, namely, physical, mental, psychological and emotional well-being, social relationships, such as family and friends and also health, education and other aspects that influence human life. The concept of quality of life at work refers to these conditions at the workplace, often also referred to as quality of life in companies.
The importance of quality of life at work is growing in the current economic and social context, taking into account the relevance that employment represents in people's lives and how useful a good organizational environment can be in managing people and improving the productivity of companies and organizations. It becomes clear that the human side cannot be dissociated from the professional side, since man is provided with individual skills and abilities that can be changed due to the conditions of the environment in which he is inserted. In this sense, over time, companies began to reflect on the well-being of their employees and the individual productivity of each one. Faced with this new reality, the term quality of life at work began to be debated and implemented in organizations. . These measures aimed to improve the quality of life at work, fundamentally, the physical and mental health of its employees. The term quality of life in companies began to be seen as an agent for improving people management, as motivated and healthy employees are strictly related to improving the work environment and consequently productivity. Currently, professionals in the job market are looking for more than a good salary and benefits, they are also looking for a humanized and appropriate work environment. If the worker feels comfort and well-being in the workplace, they will feel motivated, improving their productivity.
Work - physical and mental health Changing lifestyles, changes in the job market and free time are factors that have a strong impact on people's health. Work and free time should be a source of health for populations. The way society organizes work should help create a healthy society. Health promotion generates safe, stimulating, satisfying and pleasant living and working conditions, improving the quality of life at work and in companies. Unfortunately, we all know that this is not always the case. The changes to which society has been subject have demanded from the individual a great capacity for physical, mental and social adaptation. Competitiveness, pressure to obtain results, accumulation of information and tasks arising from an increasingly globalized world, lack of time for leisure, among other factors, guide the modern world and inevitably lead to consequences. Mental health leads to several types of changes, namely, the functioning of the daily routine, ability to work, quality of life at work, performance of family and social roles and involvement in leisure activities. Due to its diagnosis, prolonged treatments and uncertain prognosis, mental illness poses a risk to the quality of life of workers and those around them. Work is one of the main causes of stress today. Stress, in turn, has a direct influence on professional performance and productivity. Chronic stress tends to trigger intense psychosocial problems. For these reasons, stress and quality of life at work are concepts that are so present in workers' daily lives.
For the reasons presented, companies are increasingly realizing the importance of quality of life at work and its relationship with productivity. For this reason, they tend to implement quality of life programs at work, which aim to improve workers' conditions. These programs consist of actions carried out by the company, which involve the implementation of improvements and innovations both at the management level and technological or other changes in the work environment. For example, improving ergonomics, improving climatic conditions, encouraging better interpersonal relationships, providing conditions related to health and child care, etc. The quality of life in organizations can be significantly improved if these measures are well designed and implemented. As in the personal aspect, quality of life at work is essential for the development of employees, both inside and outside the company environment. In this sense, it is important to highlight the social role of organizations in creating citizens who are more aware of their role in society.
Tips for quality of life at work The attitude of individual workers also has a strong impact on the quality of life and work environment. Here are some tips to improve your quality of life at work: Focus – A professional who is focused and committed to their work suffers less negative interference from the environment; Stay away from “gossip” – Futile conversations about the lives of colleagues and superiors only fuel a hostile environment. Stay away from them and try to eliminate this behavior from your daily life; Learn to work as a team – Teamwork is one of the main skills required by companies. Collaborate with your colleagues and learn from them too; Meet deadlines and schedules – Completing your tasks with quality and within deadlines avoids unnecessary stress and improves your performance, preventing you from being questioned about it. Cultivate good relationships – Maintain good interpersonal relationships with your colleagues and superiors. This makes the environment better and healthier.
Quality of life in old age - The quality of life does not end in time. Many people are worried and question the best way to have a good quality of life in the present. However, quality of life must also be seen as a future and lasting objective. The longevity is increasing, but sometimes with a reduced quality of life. Many medical treatments allow us to improve our health condition, but often at the cost of therapies that weaken us and reduce our quality of life. We must therefore seek a good quality of life at all stages of our lives, aware that it is in the elderly people that we often see the biggest problems. The choices we make throughout our lives, such as the type of diet, physical exercise, working conditions, the environment in which we live, etc. are all factors that will influence not only our longevity and health, but also our current and future quality of life. Given the demographic changes that began to occur in the last century, and which show us an increasingly aging population, it is imperative to provide the elderly with not only a longer survival rate, but also a good quality of life. Due to the subjectivity that the concept of elderly people's quality of life entails, it becomes necessary to guide policies towards successful aging, which for the majority of elderly people is related to well-being, happiness, personal fulfillment, in short , quality of life in this age group (third age).
How to improve quality of life So that we can guarantee a good quality of life in the future, we must start worrying about maintaining healthy habits, namely: taking care of our body, a balanced diet, physical exercise, healthy relationships, having time to carry out leisure activities and several other habits that provide a person with well-being and quality of life. Health promotion is the process that aims to increase the ability of individuals to control their health, in order to improve it. To achieve a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, the individual must be able to identify and fulfill their desires, satisfy their needs and modify or adapt to the environment. Being healthy is a path that is traced daily in the smallest choices we make. Choose a fuller life and be surprised by the differences that some gestures can make. Being healthy is not limited to what we see on our body. Feeling good and happy is an important part of health and well-being and should not be neglected. Find time for yourself and those you love, dedicate yourself to new hobbies and make leisure time as important as the time you spend at work. Combine health with beauty. Although it is important to like our reflection in the mirror, it is also essential not to fall into extremism. Crazy diets can not only be dangerous, they can also be difficult to follow. Learn to combat stress. This will help reduce stress levels, reducing the likelihood of suffering from problems such as high blood pressure, allergies, infections caused by low immunity, among others, in addition to improving quality of life.
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