What do you think it means to be healthy? If you base your answer on social media, then you may think of fitness models and bodybuilders who are trim and aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, when you are repeatedly exposed to the same imagery, it can shape your perspective and behaviors. As a result, you may think “healthy” is related to someone’s body shape. In fact, that is not a good indicator of their overall health.
Key Takeaways
- Health is MORE than looks: Being healthy means taking care of your body, mind, and social connections, not just having a perfect physique.
- Small changes create big results: You don’t need dramatic transformations. Consistent, small improvements in diet, exercise, sleep, and relationships can significantly enhance your overall well-being.
- Listen to your body: Pay attention to physical, mental, and social warning signs, such as constant fatigue, negative thoughts, or feelings of isolation, and take proactive steps to address them.
What Is A Healthy Life?
Society and social media aren’t completely wrong. For example, eating healthy, exercising, and avoiding smoking and other substances are essential for a healthy life. However, just because you eat a healthy diet and exercise doesn’t mean you are healthy.
A healthy life is a more holistic approach. You can’t cancel out a poor diet by exercising. Instead, you should set goals that help improve different aspects of your life. Thankfully, this doesn’t involve sweeping changes all at once. In fact, you can make small adjustments that turn into big changes long-term.
Being healthy generally refers to your overall well-being, where your body, mind, and spirit are in a good condition involving physical, mental, and social aspects of life. So, what makes up a healthy life? Let’s take a look at some key components of health.
Physical Health
Physical health is more than just how you look. It refers to the optimal functioning of your body. That means eating a balanced diet rich in healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, while limiting processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats. This doesn’t mean you must eliminate your favorite snacks. It just means you limit them.
Exercise is essential to your physical health. Regularly engaging in exercise has many benefits that help maintain your cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and bone density, to name a few. For most healthy adults, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity every week. You may not be able to do that now, but you can work your way up to it. However, any consistent exercise is a step in the right direction.
Getting enough sleep is another pillar of physical health. It is more than lying asleep unconscious while your body rests. Your body needs sleep, like air to breathe and food to function. Specifically, sleep helps repair and maintain your physical and mental state. Without enough sleep, you can suffer a variety of negative consequences.
Mental Health
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It’s about feeling good about yourself, having positive relationships, coping with stress effectively, and functioning in your daily life, regardless of what life throws your way.
Being positive and cultivating feelings of joy, gratitude, and hope are good for your mental health. Finding ways to cope with stress, such as exercising, meditating, or spending time in nature, can improve your overall well-being. Furthermore, engaging in activities that stimulate your mental alertness, memory, and cognitive skills can help maintain your quality of life and mental health as you age.
Social Health
Maintaining a strong connection to others enhances our sense of belonging and purpose in life. A strong network of supportive people can improve your mental and physical health. Feeling like you have a meaningful role in life can contribute to your overall well-being. Moreover, engaging in your community, whether it’s through volunteering or participating in activities you enjoy, can foster a sense of belonging and connection.
How Do You Know If You’re Healthy?
Maintaining good health doesn’t mean you need to be perfect in any particular aspect. Rather, it is about consciously making choices to nourish your body, mind, and spirit in the way that suits you best. Your journey towards wellness is unique, so what works for one person may not necessarily be the best for you. However, there are signs that indicate whether you’re living a healthy life.
Physically Healthy
Your body can reveal a great deal about your overall physical health. Persistent discomfort or fatigue may indicate an underlying issue. However, if you generally have enough energy throughout the day, you’re likely getting enough sleep and nutrients from your diet.
Mentally Healthy
Overall, you generally feel good. Your mood is neutral or positive most of the time, and you don’t have feelings of anxiety, depression, or distress. Also, when things get difficult, you’re able to deal with it in a healthy way. You can work through feeling overwhelmed or stressed. You also can think clearly, concentrate on what you’re doing, and manage your life and important tasks.
Socially Healthy
You should have a strong social network with people you can depend on for help and advice. It doesn’t have to be an extensive network, but one that allows you and your network to feel a reciprocal connection. You should have a sense of purpose in your life and feel motivated to learn and grow. Overall, you feel like you’re contributing to a community and that they support you.
How Do You Know You Need To Make Changes?
You know your body better than anyone else. If something feels off, it’s important to examine your current lifestyle and habits to identify areas that need improvement. Moreover, it’s important to be honest with yourself about the changes you need to make to improve your health and well-being. Let’s examine signs that indicate it’s time to make a change.
Physical Signs
- feelings of fatigue or low energy most of the time
- exhaustion from minor physical activities like household chores
- changes in your sleeping patterns, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, excessive sleepiness, sleep deprivation, or restless nights
- unexplained changes in your weight
- ongoing digestive issues such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or heartburn
Mental Signs
- frequent feelings of being down, negative thoughts, hopelessness, or anxiety
- memory problems, brain fog, or concentration issues that affect your daily life
- relying on alcohol, drugs, or other substances to cope with emotional challenges or stress
- feelings of apathy or lack of motivation towards things you once enjoyed
Social Signs
- withdrawal from loved ones
- isolating yourself
- increased conflict in your relationships
- inability to distance yourself from toxic people
Tracking Your Progress
Whether you’re maintaining your current health or looking to make a change, tracking yourself can keep you focused on healthy living. You can use a fitness tracker to track your sleep and exercise, an app or a notebook to track your diet, and other devices to monitor your blood pressure and weight.
Sometimes, simply tracking yourself is enough to make you think about your choices before you act. Tracking yourself can also reveal trends that indicate your progress or areas of concern. As a result, you can make adjustments to keep you on the right path.
Conclusion
Societal expectations and social media have a significant influence on the concept of being healthy. However, just because a person looks aesthetically pleasing doesn’t mean they’re healthy. Being healthy is more than just looking good. It’s about being physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. It’s important to focus on making progress rather than perfection. Aim to make steady progress, which can help you adjust your behaviors and form healthy habits.
Be proactive and maintain healthy habits that support all aspects of your well-being. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, manage stress, and nurture your relationships. Regardless, it’s about feeling good in your own skin and functioning well in all areas of your life. Listen to your body and mind, be proactive, and don’t hesitate to seek professional help when you need it.
FitTrend’s mission is to help you along your self-improvement journey, promote an active lifestyle, and help you achieve your goals. Our journal can help you track your workouts, weight, mood, calories, and more. Also, FitTrend allows you to connect supported gadgets to your account to make it easier for you to update your journal automatically. Create your account today and start using FitTrend for free!
Disclaimer: No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
