Thinking back on 2020, it has become abundantly clear that lifestyle balance plays a big role in our ability to maintain not only our physical health, but also our mental and emotional wellness.
During lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, we have learned how much it means to go outside, to exercise, and to socialize in various ways. During periods of stress, it is easy to lose sight of the importance of self-care, or neglect hobbies and other ways of ‘letting down’ and de-stressing. Our sleep may suffer when our schedules or other rhythms of life are disrupted. We might have discovered how much our normal routines and schedules help to keep us balanced. When we spend all day at home, even working at home, we might be within range of the refrigerator’s insistent call to sooth or distract ourselves with food.
On the other hand, we may have learned that it is possible to prepare healthy, tasty food at home—and noticed feeling better with a break from fast food. We may have come to appreciate family time or learned to meditate instead of being constantly busy with activities. Maybe we have learned to be more flexible, while still maintaining the routines and habits that are important for our well-being.
Looking ahead, we can use these discoveries to help us not only maintain our health and well-being, but also to improve it. We can apply these principles to weather future storms, and even thrive.
- A healthy diet helps us to feel better and bolsters the immune system. For some, this might mean fruit in place of cookies. For others, it might be avoiding foods they are allergic to. Others might need more protein and fat earlier in the day. Most of us will feel better and be generally healthier if we avoid added sugar and processed food. Sitting down to enjoy a meal is usually better than eating mindlessly on the run.
- Exercise is a stress reliever and being physically fit helps our emotional and mental fitness as well.
- Routines and schedules can give us a sense of security and stability. Developing good habits to replace habits that are not helpful can help us put a healthy lifestyle on ‘autopilot’.
- Sleep, rest, and relaxation are all important to a balanced lifestyle, as is work, and a certain amount of ‘healthy stress’.
- Connection with other people is essential, as are meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose. Volunteering and helping others raises our own happiness level.
A balanced lifestyle is like a well-balanced investment portfolio. It reduces our exposure to risk. We may need to periodically rebalance our lifestyle, but if we are able to maintain an appropriate balance, it is an investment that can pay large dividends over the long term! Each part of our lifestyle is there to “kick in” when needed so we do not lose ground in periods when another aspect is more difficult. Positive gains in any area yield compounding returns.
So, as we look ahead, may we seek a balanced lifestyle that will serve us well far into the future!