You’ve likely been told (on more than one occasion!) that the key to a healthy life is a balanced lifestyle. But, if you’re anything like us, you probably got left scratching your head, wondering what a ‘balanced lifestyle’ actually is.
Many factors contribute to a balanced lifestyle. This guide will take you through the main fundamentals of healthy lifestyles, including how to achieve one.
Table of Contents
What Is A Balanced Lifestyle?
A balanced lifestyle involves making life choices and habits that support your health. This can be anything from cutting out junk food to exercising regularly throughout the week.
Think of your body as an incredibly complex machine. It requires a series of different cogs (vitamins, minerals, protein, etc.) to function normally. Maintaining a balanced lifestyle helps to aid this normal function.
The critical thing to remember about a balanced lifestyle is that it’s not a crash diet. Crash diets near enough always amount to failure, as they are not a sustainable or long-term fix. No matter your goal, going slow and steady via a balanced lifestyle will reap the most success.
Read: Healthy Eating and Exercise
How To Maintain A Balanced Lifestyle
So – what steps can you take to maintain a balanced lifestyle? Read on to discover three of the main components.
Exercise Regularly
According to the NHS, adults should aim to do some physical activity every day(1). This can be anything from a walk in the park to a gym session. When looked at from a weekly view, this should amount to at least 150 minutes of exercise per week.
Get Your Nutrients
Maintaining a balanced diet is perhaps the most essential part of a healthy lifestyle. This is because, as mentioned earlier, your body relies on a whole range of nutrients to support its normal function. The majority of these nutrients are found in foods – eating from the five main food groups will help you to find them:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Starchy
- Dairy
- Protein
- Fat
There is also the option to take multivitamins if you want added peace of mind. There are many multivitamins available, all tailored to different lifestyles and needs.
Read: Benefits of Protein Diet
Sleep Well
It’s perfectly normal to feel tired from time to time, but there may be a deeper cause if this persists. To rule out the possibility of a health concern, consider the following tips. These will aid a good night’s sleep:
- Wind down when preparing for bed
- Sleep at regular times
- Avoid technology an hour before bed
- Create a peaceful environment to sleep in
For more information regarding balanced lifestyles, check out the NHS Live Well guides. These guides have advice on every aspect that needs to be considered when looking after your health and wellbeing.
Read: Best Time to Exercise
Don’t Forget To Set Your Goals.
Now that you know the fundamentals of a balanced lifestyle, it’s time to make healthy life changes to suit! To keep up with the consistency, consider setting small goals to reach. Whether it be a weight loss goal or a fitness goal, this will help keep you motivated and on track.