Healthy Living Weekly Post: Other Healthy Lifestyle Components

I just have to start by sharing a few little successes I had this week. First, I was able to wear a cute skirt that I've had for a few years but that had gotten too tight, too uncomfortable, and made me look too terrible to wear. I tried it on the other day and it fits great, feels wonderful, and doesn't bulge anywhere. I realize healthy living is not all about how we look, but I have to admit to a few moments of vanity standing in front of the mirror! And then to top it all off, my jeans which had gotten way too tight for comfort, now fit perfectly and I can wear them all day without getting that what-was-I-thinking-when-I-squeezed-into-these feeling (you know what I mean!).

Ok, on to this week's topic. As I mentioned in last week's post, I believe there are more components to a healthy lifestyle than simply exercise and nutrition.

For me, one of the most important aspects of maintaining a healthy lifestyle involves my spiritual health. When I place my relationship with the Lord above all else and follow His Word, my life is filled with peace. Some of my healthy living activities in this area include a daily quiet time which includes prayer and Bible reading, regular church attendance, and interaction with others who share my beliefs. I had gotten a little lax in my daily quiet time, however over the past eleven weeks as I've focused on changing my eating and exercise habits, I have began almost every day with a quiet time. I believe this one daily routine is what has helped me remain peaceful amidst the uncertainty in our lives right now.

Our mental and emotional health is also important to our overall health. I think having a positive outlook is one of the best things we can do for our emotional health. Our attitude determines how we feel about ourselves, about the relationships in our lives, and the events taking place each day. While there will often be difficult circumstances, a positive attitude can help us maintain balance and emotional stability. One habit that I started earlier this year is to write down five things that I am thankful for each day. This exercise forces me to focus on some of the positive things in my life.

Another area that is important to me is my creative time, which for me is primarily focused on scrapbooking. Obviously there are times when life is too busy for us to find time to create, however I feel better in total when I am able to take some time just for me to create. This aspect will be different for each person, some of you may just need time to sit and read, others may enjoy sewing, quilting, painting, etc. This is a time for us to focus on something for the pure joy it brings.

I'm not an expert on all the components of a healthy lifestyle, but I wanted to share a little with you today because I believe it's important not to place all our focus on what we eat and how much we exercise each day. If I ate healthy and exercised an hour every day, but still neglected the spiritual, emotional, relational and creative aspects of my life, I might look great but would be miserable and empty inside.

I know several of you are also working on living healthier lives. I really like Cheri's post about what she's been doing so far and her goals for the next several months. What other components are important to your healthy lifestyle? Are there any topics you'd like to read more about that I might could include in an upcoming post?