HEALTHY LIVING. Huh?

The words “healthy lifestyle” are used a lot today and there is a huge trend towards living in such a way. This is an absolutely amazing super good thing!

But….What exactly is a “healthy lifestyle”? Is it… Going to the gym a lot? Being able to run a certain speed/ distance? Being able to lift a certain amount of weight? Looking slim or muscular? Being a certain weight or size? Having a green smoothie every morning? Juice detoxes? Having all the latest superfoods? Sleeping a certain amount of time?

Not exactly. But we can simplify out the key areas: MOVEMENT. NOURISHMENT. REST. THOUGHTS.

We need to consider each of these areas to see if we are living a healthy life. And to see whether we are just surviving or actually thriving. (Note: thriving and living at your best = the aim = healthy lifestyle!)

In survival mode you are living, but not really in a great way. Unfortunately it's probably very familiar to most people: not getting enough sleep, feeling tried when you snooze the alarm several times in the morning, relying on coffee or energy drinks to make it through the day, eating on the run, eating anything that will make you feel full, sitting at a desk all day hunched over a computer, not making time to move or exercise, not making the time to relax, engaging in negative self-talk, and putting yourself last. So yes you are living and going about your day. But your body doesn’t feel at its best and you aren’t achieving goals you set out to do. Often you think you feel fine; because you don’t know how great it feels to feel at your best! Or you feel you are working hard so there can’t possibly be more you could do; because you don’t know how much extra time and energy good lifestyle habits produce!

Now, in thriving mode: you wake up naturally and feeling refreshed from a good night's sleep, enjoy a nourishing breakfast, are active in life overall (both planned exercise and more importantly movement in general), and have lots of energy and confidence to take on tasks of the day and of life. Your schedule is clear and focused, priorities are set straight, and decisions are consistent with your life values. Everything is moving forward, and even in tough times you face challenges head on and push past them to progress. You are mindful, grateful, and engage in positive self-talk. Your body feels good and energetic. And your mind feels happy, determined, and accomplished.

By making sure you are giving yourself and your body good movement, quality nourishment, regenerative sleep, and a positive mindset/ thinking, you are putting yourself into a healthy living state. And that gives you an edge on life and makes you feel amazing!

To come: how to determine how well you are doing and make improvements in each of the key areas of a healthy lifestyle :)

Movement.

Nourishment.

Rest.

Thoughts.