Lifestyle Factors

Hey ya!

I know we're in stressful times- unable to go out comfortably and UberEats is our BFF. During times like this (Covid-19) we can choose to get lazy and depressed about our social life being wrecked or we can make the most of it.

They look six feet apart to me, ha!

Lifestyle factors contribute to a person’s level of stress and therefore impacts health.

Lifestyle factors include

• Mental attitude

• Dietary habits

• Physical activity

• Social relationships

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In order to have control over your mental attitude, it’s up to you to identify factors that influence your mood. Be mindful of your surroundings- the environment, the people, perhaps even the music. Does it bring you joy? Do they make you feel at peace? Or is it stress? Anxiety?

“A person’s attitude is reflective of their inner emotional landscape.”

What surrounds you does affect you. Everyone has heard the saying “you are who you hang around.” It’s true! No, you may not make the same poor or optimal choices but how they move rubs off on you. Negativity clings just as positivity follows.

Notice the choice of words I used… negativity clings. It weighs you down. Positivity follows - it rubs off on everyone. Imagine a child laughing with his grandpa nearby at a diner you chose to go to for breakfast. That moment of happiness will reside in you for quite some time. At least until you make the decision to welcome another feeling in.

Surround yourself with things that lift you up.

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Number two, DUN DUN DUN… dietary habits. Firstly, we all have the common sense to know what types of foods are good for us and or not so good. Processed foods… YUCK! *yes that means you In-N-Out* Meanwhile whole foods, cue the sound of the holy grail… AHHHHHHH.

It’s unfortunately not that simple actually, thanks to pesticides and other contaminants, but that’s for another blog post. Just know that no single food can provide all the nutrients needed for optimal body health. Eating a variety of foods gives you many different nutrients.

Foods that are whole are not processed and probably from your local farm or farmers market provide the nutrients that our body needs. To be quite an Einstein, whole foods are defined as close to their whole, natural state as possible. This allows the essential nutrients to remain intact. The body knows how to metabolize a whole food such as a banana but you throw banana flavoring into that latte and it’s like WHAT THE HECK ARE YA DOING LADDIE!??!??!! Thus, there is confusion.

Food gives us the fuel we need to get through our boring 9-5 job or clean up after our toddlers or write another damn research paper for a course we don’t even care about. Eat more veggies! Eat less fast food. Eat less pastries, soda, and potato chips.

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Now I know everyone seen the third lifestyle factor and is dreading this but here it is… exercise!

By golly, it will not be the end of you! Physical activity is important. Keeping our bodies in motion keeps our oxygen flowing and keeps us alive longer. We don’t want to kick the can at thirty-something... there’s still a lot of house parties to attend, am I right? (it’s a joke) Anyhow, physical activity also influences our mental attitude. It produces the chemical in our body that makes us feel good, endorphins. It also helps us burn off that Domino’s pizza we ate last night.

Get an accountability partner that can keep you on track. Exercising is much more enjoyable with a friend or a partner.

Although we are living in quarantine times and most of everyone’s social life is not that hot at the moment, make sure that the people around you have your back but make sure they wash their hands before they have your back. Forreal though… you are more likely to be successful when you have a support team. That support system can stem from your friends at school, your teammates, your family, etc. Do not let anyone hold you back. Think about your behavior around people who believe in you and those who don't believe in you.

Take advice from those who have their fruit on the tree. If you don’t have one, get a significant mentor or life coach who can really help you make great choices.

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***This is all about the choices you make. You set yourself up for success or failure.

You choose to let positivity turn you into a sunflower or negativity impact your health. Lifestyle choices are 53% of longevity determinants.

What changes can you make?

Start today and go one day at a time. Don’t think long-term just yet. Build good habits that help promote your desired end result. You’ll get there! Just lay off the Netflix binge and do something better with your time… at least today.