People tend to ask me about a healthy lifestyle and what a healthy lifestyle looks like.
The normal expectation is for me to talk about food and exercise. Healthy living goes much deeper than considering moving more and eating better.
With the complexities of our modern living, we need to consider health in a broader sense than, what we eat and how we move.
Incorrect information about nutrition and exercise abounds.
Our complex world puts an enormous amount of pressure on us.
Our daily chaotic lifestyles make it difficult to build healthy habits.
We disconnect from people as a result of our reliance on digital connectivity.
When I reflect on my health, here are the three categories under which I engage and which I aim to improve:
Increase Self-Awareness
There are several effective methods for increasing self-awareness, including:
Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and emotions on a regular basis can help you gain insight into your inner workings.
Meditation: Meditation practices such as mindfulness can help you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations in the present moment.
Therapy: Talking to a therapist or counselor can help you gain insight into your thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behavior.
Self-reflection exercises: There are various self-reflection exercises such as “The Johari Window” that can help you understand how you see yourself and how others see you.
Keeping a gratitude journal, where you record things you are thankful for can also help improve self-awareness by focusing on the positives in your life.
It’s important to note that different methods may work better for different people, and it may take some experimentation to find the methods that work best for you.
A healthy lifestyle starts with self-awareness.
Habits
There are several effective strategies for creating and maintaining healthy habits, including:
Start small: Begin by making small changes to your routine, such as taking a short walk after dinner or drinking a glass of water in the morning. These small changes can build momentum and make it easier to adopt more significant habits over time.
Use triggers: Associate your new habit with an existing habit or activity, such as brushing your teeth or making your bed. This can help create a “cue” that triggers your new habit.
Create a routine: Incorporate your new habit into your daily routine, such as setting aside time in the morning or evening to practice meditation or exercise.
Be consistent: Stick to your new habit as consistently as possible, even if it means making adjustments to your schedule or other habits.
Get a support system: Share your goals and progress with friends, family, or a professional to get support and encouragement.
Make it measurable: Set specific, measurable goals for your habit, such as “I will exercise for 30 minutes three times a week.” This will help you track your progress and stay motivated.
Reward yourself: Give yourself a reward every time you complete a habit, it can be something small like a treat or something bigger like a vacation.
A healthy lifestyle can only be achieved by consistently engaging in healthy activities. Make it a goal to foster the habits that serve you.
It’s important to remember that creating and maintaining healthy habits takes time and effort, and setbacks are a normal part of the process. It’s also crucial to be patient with yourself, and don’t get discouraged if you slip up, just get back on track.
Network
Creating strong and healthy people networks can be done through a variety of strategies, including:
Building relationships: Focus on building genuine, authentic relationships with people. This can be done by being a good listener, showing interest in others, and being generous with your time and resources.
Networking: Attend events and join groups or clubs related to your interests or industry. This can help you meet new people and expand your network.
Collaborating: Seek out opportunities to collaborate with others on projects or initiatives. This can help you build stronger relationships and create mutually beneficial connections.
Being authentic: Be true to yourself and communicate your values, interests, and goals clearly. This will attract people who share similar values and interests.
Building trust: Trust is a key component in any relationship, to build trust with others, be reliable, honest, and transparent in your interactions.
Connecting people: When you meet someone new, think about how you might be able to connect them with other people in your network who could benefit from knowing each other. This will help you build goodwill and strengthen your relationships with both people.
Showing gratitude: Show gratitude for the people in your network, and thank them for their help, support and advice.
Being open to new people and opportunities: Keep an open mind, be curious and willing to meet new people, be open to new opportunities and be willing to help others.
Remember, building strong and healthy people networks takes time and effort, and it’s important to be consistent in your efforts to maintain and strengthen your connections.
A healthy lifestyle includes strong and meaningful bonds with people.
