What does it mean to be healthy? For many people, the concept of being healthy can be challenging. There are so many factors that play into our health: diet, physical activity, stress levels, genetics and more. Even if you’re diligent about your health habits and plan for the worst when it comes to unforeseen circumstances, there’s no guarantee that you’ll stay healthy forever.
However, being healthy doesn’t have to be a constant battle or a question of whether you can maintain good habits in the long run. Just like any other positive trait in your life — self-control, positive thinking, patience — being healthy is something that you can cultivate and strengthen over time with consistent practice. Here are some telltale signs that indicate you should work towards becoming healthier:
You’re not afraid to step outside your comfort zone
There are a lot of unhealthy habits that people fall into without even realizing it because they’ve become so normalized. You don’t have to be a social butterfly to have a healthy social life. You don’t have to tweet like crazy to be funny. You don’t have to be constantly drunk to have fun. And you don’t have to be a sad sack to have any of these things in moderation.
The best thing about stepping outside your comfort zone is that it forces you to learn about yourself in new ways. You might learn something about yourself and about the world around you. You might discover new interests and new talents that you never knew you had. You might discover that you want to be a more compassionate person, or a more productive one. The important thing is that you don’t constrict your potential because you’re afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone.
You prioritize your sleep
Sleep is underrated. It’s important for many bodily functions and crucial for memory, concentration and mood. Plus, a lack of sleep can cause you to feel moody and depressed, which can make it harder to stay healthy. The good news is that you can improve your sleep if you make a serious effort. Most people are sleeping too little, not getting the quality sleep that they need, or are sleeping too much (due to stress, insomnia or certain medications).
You can work to improve your sleep by setting realistic sleep goals and taking steps to minimize stress and other sleep disruptions. Most importantly, you need to prioritize sleep. If you’re constantly too busy or stressed, you’re probably not prioritizing sleep as much as you should. If you’re not prioritizing sleep, you’re not going to be healthy. It’s as simple as that.
You’ve incorporated daily exercise into your routine
A healthy body doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of consistent, daily effort. It doesn’t matter how old you are, how much time you’ve been given or how much you’d like to do — nobody can make themselves healthy. If you want to be healthy, you have to make yourself healthier.
Daily exercise is a great way to not just stay healthy, but also to improve your life. Daily exercise is an important part of your health, because it helps you to stay fit, stay healthy and live longer. Regular exercise can improve your fitness, help you burn calories and lose weight, build muscle and have more energy.
You’re emotionally balanced
This one might be a bit obvious, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless. Many people are so caught up in the idea of being healthy — and the scary, stressful work that comes along with it — that they forget to pause and consider their emotions.
Nobody wants to be unhealthy, but being unhealthy doesn’t just mean eating too many doughnuts, twisting your ankle or being sad all the time. Being unhealthy means being distant from other people and prioritizing your own needs over those of others. Being emotionally balanced means keeping your priorities in line — yourself, your loved ones and the world around you.
You consistently eat healthy (and avoid unhealthy foods)
Healthy eating is a great way to not just stay healthy, but also to improve your life. Healthy eating can help you to build a strong body that feels good and lasts a long time, as well as improve your mental health. Healthy eating is also important for maintaining a balanced mood.
Some healthy food choices include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein sources (fish, poultry, beans, eggs, nuts and soy are all great options), whole grains and dairy (if you choose to consume it) and limiting sugary beverages and processed foods. Healthy food options can help you to stay healthy. A healthy diet is not just about avoiding unhealthy foods like doughnuts, it’s also about eating foods that are high in vitamins and minerals.
You know all the best (and worst) food trends
If you know all the best and worst food trends, you probably know a lot about what you should and shouldn’t eat. A bad trend doesn’t just mean that a certain food isn’t healthy; it could also be a poor nutritional choice that’s high in sugar or salt, for example.
Knowing the best and worst food trends, as well as what’s popping in terms of diet, can help you to stay on top of your health. It can help you to avoid bad nutritional choices — or at least know what to watch out for!
Conclusion
Health is a complex topic and no one can tell you exactly what it is. Health is about what gives you energy and strength to be the best version of yourself. However, you can make healthy choices and live a happier and more productive life by living a balanced life free from stress.
While it is important to prepare for unforeseen health issues and health emergencies, it is also important to live a healthy lifestyle. Healthy habits are something that can be cultivated. The more consistent you are the healthier you will be. In order to be healthy, it helps to be aware of what signals you are sending out and what you need to change. In order to be healthy, you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to make an effort to be healthier.
