International Men’s Health Week is celebrated globally during the second week of June to raise awareness of the importance of health and wellness for boys and men. To honor this week, we interviewed our employees at Atlas Antibodies to know more about their views on health, and how they see the importance of maintaining good health in their individual lives. Read on to hear what Jonatan B. and Jonathan W. have to say.

Jonatan Blader, IT Manager

What would you say good health is and means to you as a person?

Jonatan: A few years ago, good health for me would mainly have referred to physical and mental health.

With the situation we have been put in because of the pandemic and the lockdowns, I also see the need for maintaining good social health. As a person, I value the need for keeping the body moving and staying active but also having the chance to rest. I also value the importance of allowing the mind to recuperate after an intense day at work or playing with my kids.

Due to the situation, we have been in during the pandemic, I also understand that it can easily feel like you are disconnected from the community, as you are unable to come to the office or easily see your friends. This makes upholding good social health more challenging and is something I have learned to value more in my life during the situation we have been in.

How important would you say being healthy is to you? And why is it important for you?

Jonatan: For me, being healthy is both about the present and the future. I don’t see myself getting to a point where I will stop enjoying the things I do today, so that makes it important for me to prepare my health and my body for the future; so that my body can support me in being able to continue doing the activities I enjoy today. 

How do you practice making healthy decisions and applying healthy habits to your everyday life?

Jonatan: I used to use public transport and then walk, with the goal of reaching 10 000 steps per day. I would reach that with no challenge at all. However, these days when working from home, it is easy to forget oneself and instead, just work continuously for the entire day. I, therefore, try to make a point of taking walks during lunch hours and in the evenings instead. This, for me, maintains some form of good physical and mental health.

For the days when I am at the office, I have stopped using public transport and started commuting by bicycle instead. I also used to really enjoy going to the gym, and I very much look forward to returning to the iron temple once I have been fully vaccinated and can go there again.

 Jonathan Wulff, Logistics Coordinator 

What would you say good health is and means to you as a person?

Jonathan: For me, good health is a feeling, something that makes you feel good inside. It doesn’t necessarily have to be related to either a workout or food. It could be as simple as meeting someone that makes you happy and feel good. 

How important would you say being healthy is to you? And why is it important for you?

Jonathan: For me being healthy is more of a lifestyle. I look at it as a puzzle. I figure out the small parts of what makes me feel good and how I can adapt that to the way I want to live my life.

This is a huge part of the lifegoal I have, and to me, it is also the most important one, that one reads “Let no one tell you how to live your life, it’s yours and yours only”.

How do you practice making healthy decisions and applying healthy habits to your everyday life?

Jonathan: To start, I always listen to my body and my mind, how do I feel today. Am I happy, sad, angry, and so on, all of this will affect me in regards to how my day or week is going to turn out.

When it comes to how I apply healthy habits to my life, I do that in many different ways. Firstly, I like to learn new things, so watching documentaries is something I find interesting as it can provide me with new knowledge. Secondly, I enjoy meeting new people in my life. I like to spread joy and positivity, make new friends and both share my knowledge with others and take part in theirs.  Lastly, exercising is important to me as it is one of my favorite things to do.

I have been doing it all my life, and it makes me feel good and strong on the inside. It makes me feel like I am ready to face all the challenges that come with life. All of this represents ways I try and make healthy decisions in my life so that I can live my best life.