What does health mean to you?
Health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing; not just the absence of disease.” I like half of this definition… the “not just the absence of disease” part, because it acknowledges that there’s so much more to being “healthy” than just not being sick or having disease. But the other half, about achieving COMPLETE or perfect states of physical, mental, and social wellbeing, just isn’t possible. We can continue to strive to live and feel like the best versions of what health means to us, but unfortunately we are never going to be perfect. Being healthy is not a fixed outcome, or a destination. It is a JOURNEY, a way of being and of living.
I used to live in this mindset of perfectionism around the word healthy, and would try to achieve some unrealistic goal I would set for myself in regards to how I thought I needed to look, eat, and feel in order to finally be “healthy” or “fit.” Not only was this mentality exhausting and self-depleting, but I was setting myself up for failure when creating these unrealistic expectations of perfection around food, fitness, and wellness. There is nothing wrong with setting goals and working hard to achieve them, you just want to make sure these goals are obtainable, are leading to overall improved happiness in your life, and that you are enjoying the process of becoming a healthier version of yourself! Health is a journey and is constantly evolving in terms of what it means for you. It can be difficult to shift your mindset, but I am going to challenge you this month to start focusing on the small actions steps you can take, instead of looking for that quick fix, or feeling that constant pressure to be or feel some way you aren’t yet. In order to reach our goals and make sustainable and long lasting changes to health, we need to take it day by day, and start implementing small changes and habits to our every-day routines, while also having support and accountability to stick to these new habits. With each small change, you will learn what works for you, and what doesn’t, and can modify as you learn about yourself and how you feel incorporating new behavior, food, or exercise.
Listed below are 10 Small Steps you can take to better your health and happiness!
Choose 2-3 of the 10 to focus on for the month of February. Set aside 30 minutes to journal about your intentions for the month surrounding the steps you choose to focus on, why you chose these, and how each day/week you can make conscious efforts to implement this new habit into your everyday routine.
Please reach out if you have any questions, or feel like you need support, accountability, or advice in how to start. Remember, be easy on yourself and make small goals that are realistic and that you feel you can handle. No need to beat yourself up if things don’t go according to plan! Adjust, and start again (:
10 Steps to Better Health
1. Drink More Water
2. Practice Cooking
3. Increase your vegetable intake
4. Experiment with plant-based protein
5. Eat fewer processed foods
6. Make a habit of nurturing your body
7. Invest in healthy relationships
8. Enjoy regular physical activity
9. Focus on work you love
10. Connect with nature
Feel free to share in the comments what steps you are gong to focus on in February so we can support you along the way! Remember to enjoy the journey, and know that you are on the path to greater health and happiness.