Staying Healthy in an Unhealthy World

Staying healthy in an increasingly unhealthy society is a challenge. Between work, writing, and a personal life, it's hard for even me to not fall into unhealthy habits, the biggest being this overbearing sense of laziness toward the idea of actively staying healthy. Like many of you, sometimes I find myself thinking that my busy life is enough for me to stay healthy, however, this is simply not enough. Over the past year or so, I've been trying a couple of methods to improve my health lifestyle, and I would like to share some of what I've tried and what has worked for me in the past. I've had my share of miserable days just because I've let myself become unhealthy, and I don't wish that for anyone if I can help it.

First and foremost, staying active in improving your health is probably one of the most important things you can do in your life. I feel that that is also the most important idea to keep in mind in becoming healthy. Psych yourself up about becoming healthy, get yourself excited about the idea of improving your health no matter how big or small the steps are you're taking to achieving that goal. If you're not mentally excited about improving your health, you won't feel or see the improvement you're seeking and that's a fact. What I find works the best for me is talking to myself in the mirror a couple times a day about getting healthier and staying healthy. While this may seem embarrassing or stupid, it isn't, and I beg you not to fall into that trap. When you instill the notion of improving your health with your own voice, whether or not you're excited about doing it that day, it does have a powerful impact on your mentality about getting healthy. You hear yourself, a voice you know and trust, and promise that you'll start to believe in what that voice says over time. Reminding yourself everyday of your commitment to be and stay healthy has a profound, even if subtle, impact on how you go on about the rest of your day. The first step to getting and staying healthy is to put positive thoughts about it in your head, and the best way to do that is to talk to yourself about it.

The next thing that I've found that really works is, of course, finding a friend or your spouse to share this goal with. They don't have to be an exercise buddy per se, they don't even have to be an accountability partner for you, but you do need someone close that you can talk about health and wellness to. Personally, I share my goals for being healthy with my girlfriend. Again, that doesn't mean that we jog around town everyday together, but, what we do do is talk and that is essential. A couple times a week we simply hang out and talk about being healthy. We psych each other up about becoming a healthier person. Sometimes we might make plans to go exercise or make a date to eat healthier but, once again, that is not the essential point of our conversations. What we are really doing is reinforcing the belief that we can become healthier people, and we let the rest come naturally. And, it does. Having someone believe in you, and you believing in someone else, is crucial toward developing a healthy attitude toward becoming a healthier you, and that's what this is all about.

Now, becoming healthy does mean that somewhere down the road we start making healthy decisions for ourselves. Once you're mentally prepared to make these decisions, though, they'll come a lot easier for you, I know they have for me. Especially over the past few months, I've noticed that both my girlfriend and I have found simple but satisfying ways to both grow closer together and maintain our goals of a healthy lifestyle. One of the first things we started was a walking routine. It started off small, just around the apartment complex or so, but now we go to explore the surrounding neighborhoods that sprawl around our area. During this time we do what any normal couple might, we talk about our days, we get to know each other a little better, we pick up sticks and have mock sword fights, that sort of thing. The best thing is, though, we enjoy it, and it is healthy. Reflecting back on what I said earlier, the most important thing about being and staying healthy, or improving your health, is to enjoy the activity and decisions you make to do that. If you don't enjoy them, you won't succeed at them, it's that simple.

I realize that walking is just a small step though. Yet, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Walking, for me, helps tire me out a little where I go to bed earlier and get a better night's sleep. You see, one healthy decision generally leads to another, and another, and another. What is essential is making that first step, and following through with it. The official Health and Wellness term for creating and continuing a healthy habit is the "Maintenance Stage", and that is exactly the stage I'm trying to help you reach with my story. If you can believe in yourself to keep a healthy habit, and also have someone who believes in you, then you're sure to reach that stage with little effort.

Today, not only have I adopted a number of healthy habits into my lifestyle, but I have also grown closer to my girlfriend and myself in the process. Before, I felt that all I could do in a day was work, cook something in the microwave to eat, and then sleep. Even if you work a full day, though, there is so much more left in a day you can do, you just have to believe you can see and take those opportunities. I treasure the time now that my girlfriend and I spend cooking together, another healthy habit we've adopted that allows us both to spend time with each other and maintain our health. I look forward to the times when we walk together, even after a hard day at work. I'm excited to have another conversation with her about new things we can do together that we enjoy and that are good for us. The most important thing, though, is I'm proud to talk to myself in the mirror, each morning, and tell myself that I can stay healthy. I believe in myself, and there was a time when I didn't, but I kept saying it anyway.

What I want you to do is believe in yourself. Even if you don't, tell yourself you do. Tell someone else close to you that you do. It could be a family member, it could be your best friend, it could be your girlfriend, but find someone to share your goals and beliefs about being a healthier you. You're too good not to believe in yourself, I know this. I've been in your shoes before, unhealthy, tired each day, lazy when it comes to the sense of health. It's hard at first, but the rewards are huge and within your grasp. So please, believe in yourself when it comes to improving your health. The last thing I want to leave you with is this, "I believe in you", and that will never change.