A healthy lifestyle involves making decisions that promote both physical and mental wellbeing, from exercising regularly to eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding smoking, alcohol consumption and excess stress.
Healthy living means something different to everyone; each individual must define what this means for themselves. But there are some key components of any healthy lifestyle.
Exercise
According to Hippocrates, exercise benefits and strengthens all parts of the body; when not used regularly they become weak and susceptible to disease.
Regular physical activity is beneficial to everyone regardless of age, sex or fitness level. Physical activity helps lower risks associated with heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity while strengthening bones and muscles as well as improving mental health and mood. Furthermore, exercise has been shown to aid sleep quality as well as potentially prevent certain cancers.
People should strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, such as walking, cycling, swimming and participation in sports or aerobics activities such as aerobics. Other forms of physical activity that count include climbing stairs and doing housework – just ensure there’s a balance between leisure time and physical activity; too much sedentary behavior should be avoided particularly among children.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating healthy is essential throughout life, from childhood through old age. Diets that are low in sugar and fat while including whole grains, vegetables, fruit and protein-rich foods can reduce your risk of numerous illnesses including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
Drink plenty of water and limit alcohol, tobacco and caffeine consumption. If you need help quitting tobacco or alcohol use, seek support.
A healthy lifestyle looks different for each of us and it is up to each individual to make changes that work for themselves. Achieve wellness means creating habits that help improve your well-being by decreasing disease risks, increasing longevity, saving money and benefitting the environment – small steps like choosing water over soda or going for a walk instead of scrolling social media can have dramatic results!
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep can have numerous health advantages that rival those provided by diet and regular exercise. Studies show that failing to get at least seven hours of restful slumber each night puts your health at risk.
An adequate sleep environment gives both the body and brain time to recharge, helping you better resist disease, focus and think clearly, perform at your highest physical and emotional potential, as well as assisting memory formation and learning processes. Sleep also plays an integral part of memory formation as it gives the brain time to process information and form memories.
Unfortunately, many people fail to get enough sleep on a consistent basis due to work commitments, stress levels and the absence of an ideal sleeping environment. But there are steps you can take to improve your sleeping habits and get enough restful zzzs!
Manage Stress
Living a healthy lifestyle is a personal journey that differs for each of us. For some it could mean walking one mile five days a week, eating healthy, and spending quality time with loved ones on alternate days; for others it might mean training for marathons annually, following a strict keto diet, and forgoing alcohol altogether. Whatever it looks like for you personally, make the decisions that best serve you – making smart choices can lower your risk of disease, improve mood and energy levels, as well as add years to your life!
If stress is leading you to adopt unhealthy behaviors such as binge eating or drinking excessively or smoking cigarettes, try to identify its root causes. Speaking to a therapist or counselor can provide insight into effective coping mechanisms and ways of managing stressors. Also ensure you get enough rest, connect with family and friends, as these will all keep your spirits high while managing stress effectively.
