Let’s face it: some days are just more stressful than others. I find that striking the right balance between all of life’s priorities on a daily basis has been key to making healthy living an attainable reality for me. After all, as Arianna Huffington wrote in On Becoming Fearless in Love, Work and Life, “The most intimate relationship we’ll ever have is with our own body.”
Thrive Global’s five foundational daily behaviors (Sleep, Food, Movement, Stress Management, and Connection) really resonate with me. These are things I strive to balance in my own life. During stressful times, I try to exercise to calm myself down so I can sleep well. I’m also a huge reader and can lose myself in chapters of whatever book I’m reading. It relaxes me, ramps me down, gets me away from my phone, and prepares me for bed. I think people often forget how doing the things you love contributes to your overall wellness.
It’s important to remember we don’t need fancy things to stay fit. I go for a lot of walks with my dog or my friends, and I love to find exercise YouTube videos that only require me to use my bodyweight. Similarly, when it comes to cooking, I try to eat healthy meals without over-complicating it.
Eating well is important to me – especially as someone with an auto immune disease that impacts how I feel every day. When I eat well and get a balance of lean protein, veggies and starches I feel a lot better than if I don’t do that. I try to always have healthy snacks on hand because sometimes dinner is a smorgasbord of carrots, cucumbers, hummus and cheese or a quick sandwich. Grilled cheese, anyone?
I’m so thrilled that Blue Shield Promise has partnered with Thrive on the Thrive Global Cookbook, featuring delicious, culturally diverse recipes using low-cost ingredients. I believe nutrition is the first thing each of us can do to ensure we are giving our bodies the best shot at optimal health. Cooking is also a great way to form bonds, build community, and pass along information about nutrition – and family stories too. My grandmother taught me to cook when I was young and showed me that cooking is a wonderful way to form bonds, build community, and pass along information about nutrition. I value those lessons still.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness and nutrition. We each live complex lives, come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and define healthy living according to our individual life experiences. I encourage you to be mindful in how you can attain your wellness and nutrition goals, given your unique background.Overall, I believe you should give yourself grace for what you can realistically accomplish in a day. Instead of being frustrated when my day doesn’t go as planned, I’ve found it helpful to accept when the realities of daily life impede my health and wellness goals, and to adapt to these constraints with grace. That’s the first step to finding the balance that works for your life.