Overview of steps to a healthy lifestyle.  (Part 1)

    Today, a healthy lifestyle can be defined in many different ways. A component for one may vary for another, but the components are basically the same. It's important to look at all the components and address how each contributes to a healthy lifestyle.  This is the start of a series on Healthy lifestyle. As such, we’ll just get started speaking in generalities. Here are ten general steps to achieving a healthy lifestyle:  

1. Weight. Take a look at your weight. Do you need to lose a few pounds? If so, what has held you back? If you've recently lost weight, are you keeping the pounds off? Become a weight manager where you implement changes to ensure that you eat in moderation. Studies have shown that weight boils down to calories. If you ensure you don't take in more calories than you burn, you will maintain a healthy weight.

2. Food. Take a look at what you eat. Even if you're at the appropriate weight, do you eat a healthy diet with treats in moderation? It's an old line, but moderation is really the key to keeping to a healthy diet. Ensure your cupboards aren't working against you. If you keep lots of non-nutritious treats in your cupboards, you will eat them. Basically, concentrate on filling your diet with great whole foods and save the treats for an occasional splurge.

3. Exercise. Evaluate your exercise or lack thereof. Do you engage in any physical activity daily? Physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle because it affects several different areas. First, physical activity is important to losing and maintaining weight. Second, it helps you build and maintain muscular strength. And third, physical activity is a boost to your emotional well-being.

4. Leisure activities. Take a look at your leisure activities. Do they satisfy you and stimulate you? Are you spending your non-work time doing something meaningful and in a way that you enjoy? If not, it's time to look for some new hobbies or interests. If you want to engage with others more, look for clubs or organizations. There are multitudes of possibilities for using your leisure time, such as reading, writing, knitting, golf, tennis, walking, bird watching, sewing, scrapbooking, woodworking, etc. Save the TV for those few programs you must see and fill your spare time with something you love.

5. Relationships. Take a look at your relationships. Are they healthy and supportive? If not, attempt to resolve whatever seems to be the problem. There are many counselors who are adept at leading people through resolution of problem relationships. Don't let problems linger and poison your healthy lifestyle.

6. Career/job. Take a look at your career/job. Are you doing what you want? And, is it satisfying to you? If not, look for ways to improve what you are doing or begin to plan a career change. Quitting your job before you have something lined up may make you more miserable, so be sure to plan out a move carefully. Often, just starting to plan for the move will make the career or job seem more palatable.

7. Stress. Take a look at your stress level. Do you have outlets for the tension that builds up in your life? Talk, talk, talk. Often we keep things bottled up too much. Merely talking out what is bothering us often helps. If it doesn't, try some stress-relieving exercises. Often increasing leisure activities and interaction with others in positive environments decrease stress as well. 

8. Habits. Are you engaging in positive habits? If not and you smoke or drink excessively or have other habits that do not promote a healthy lifestyle, set about to eliminate them one at a time. If you have difficulty getting started, seek help.

9. Spirituality. Do you have a rich or satisfying spiritual outlook? A satisfying spiritual outlook often adds to a healthy lifestyle. If this could be of benefit to you, seek to enrich your spiritual life.

10. Put it all together and make a healthy lifestyle into a lifelong project. Don't become too comfortable and let things slowly slide back to the old ways. Periodically reassess how you are doing and make adjustments to your healthy lifestyle as needed.

Don’t be discouraged if you fall short is some of these areas. We all do. Subsequent articles will address each area in detail. So sit back and for now take a good look at yourself and your lifestyle.