There is a lot of focus on being fit and healthy in our world. Rightfully so. There is also acknowledgement that a healthy lifestyle is key to preventing or healing from illness and injury. In addition, making healthy choices over time also greatly contributes to better quality of life as we age.
The question becomes then, What is a healthy lifestyle?
Defining a Healthy Lifestyle
Broadly speaking, living a healthy life means you are getting all of what you need to function well day to day, year to year.
That can become immediately complicated by all the various details of your specific circumstances. That being said, however, there are some basics that will serve just about everyone.
Sufficient hydration, nutrition, movement, and sleep are central to your wellness. We’ve talked about these basics before in this blog (here and here, for instance) because they are so central to living well. They're worthy of emphasis.
This is always a great place to start when you’re looking to improve or maintain your health. If you know you’re lacking in these basic areas, there’s no need to look further, yet. Keep it simple, as much as you can. Start here.
Of course, there are times when you've got too much going on to cover the basics. For instance, when children are small, you’ll likely be sleep deprived. As a consequence, you won’t be functioning at your best, and you probably won’t feel your best either.
Just recognizing that that is the case and adjusting as needed can be very helpful in getting through these times of imbalance. It’s important here to not beat yourself up and not to expect more from yourself than you’re able to give. In those times, give yourself some grace.
When the opportunity does arrive to return to getting sufficient amounts of sleep, you’ll be able to find your healthy lifestyle balance again.
There are also life circumstances that impact your ability to nourish yourself well or get enough exercise, so the same goes then. Return to healthy habits as soon as you can.
The upshot here is that simply maintaining these basics of healthy living can be enough to focus on. In strengthening those, you may be right where you want to be. If this is the case, wonderful. No need to look further. It's A-OK to be happy with where you're at.
The Impact of Your Community
When it comes to covering the basics, questions remain: Specifically, what is sufficient sleep, hydration, nutrition, and movement? The answers to can vary because we are all different, and norms look different depending on where you live and who you talk to. Yes, there are guidelines for all of these areas, but when it comes to specifics, there are no absolutes.
So, indeed, one area that will have a big impact is your community. The people you surround yourself with play a large role in what you see as normal, acceptable choices. So, be mindful. Are these habits actually healthy, or do they just feel comfortable and okay because it’s what everyone around you is doing?
Be open to exploring new groups and communities that may influence you to make choices that serve you better.
Beyond the Basics
Covering the basics will go a long way in keeping you healthy. But there are certainly circumstances where, even with these basics covered, your health won’t be where you want it. Then it’s time to go beyond basics.
Some areas to investigate are your emotional and psychological wellbeing. Your body holds on to past injury and trauma in ways that you may not recognize. Checking in with how your mental and emotional state may be impacting your health can be a fruitful place of discovery. Releasing and healing old wounds can be very liberating and benefit your health in profound ways.
Another area to consider is your stress level. Stress can have a huge impact on your health, and you may be under more stress than you even realize. The body and mind are good at adapting to challenges. But when we ask too much of ourselves for too long, it can take a big toll on our health.
Also to consider, especially for women in their 40s and 50s but also for men, are hormone fluctuations. Menopause and other changes that come with age have a big impact on your whole life. Learning how to navigate through these times of change will make the journey less difficult. In the least, knowing what to look for and what to expect provides you with empowering agency.
There is No Perfect Path
No one, not a single person, has all the answers to ideal health. The always changing world and each person’s unique situation sees to that. What works for one person may not work for someone else. And further, what works today will not necessarily work tomorrow, or next month, or in ten years.
Also, the body is amazing at being able to process some less than healthy behaviors from time to time. Being too rigid in your pursuit of health can have its downsides, too. Finding a balance that works for you is truly what’s best.
This is what makes maintaining health interesting as well as frustrating. But there’s good news here, too: the body is always changing. This means that there is always opportunity to try something new and move toward better health or maintain the health you already have.
So let’s come back to the question at hand: What is a healthy lifestyle? In the end, it’s really for you to answer. Addressing it thoughtfully and being open to change over time will go a long way in sustaining your long-term wellbeing.
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