Everyone has a different definition of “Healthy”. Depending on the media you consume or the family you were brought up in, you have unique beliefs about your state of health. You may think that carbs are evil and being skinny is the epitome of being healthy. You may think that exercise has to involve an hour of hard running or heavy weight lifting to count. You may think that sucking it up and having another cup of coffee to get you through your exhaustion is just how life is. What if you could learn a different view of health?
There is no one size fits all definition of health. Having a healthy body includes having a healthy mind and outlook as well as a healthy social life and community. A healthy mental state for me can be different from yours depending on personality and past experiences. My goal in this post is not to tell you what healthy is, but to encourage you to define your own health parameters. Some of the most important factors in our health and well being include adequate sleep, stress reduction strategies, mental health, good nutrition and physical activity. Other components that might be relevant to you are spirituality and social life. Healthy family members and relationships are also important especially if you are a caregiver.
As you are asking yourself what healthy is and looks like for you, think about what that means for your lifestyle. Do you watch TV in a well lit room right before bed? Do you skip Breakfast? When was the last time you went for a walk or met up with a friend? How do these actions benefit or harm you?
Small lifestyle adjustments can have a large impact on your desired state of health. It takes setting goals, making plans and a little encouragement. Being healthy is not an end goal, but a constant lifelong journey. We don’t get it right all the time, but we can do the best we can as often as possible. The journey will have ups and downs and the nice thing is you get as many restarts as you need. You deserve to feel good in your body!
