What does living a healthy lifestyle mean anyway?

We all have a different version of what a healthy lifestyle means but often we get overwhelmed by the daily grind, which means we may end up simply checking items frantically off of our to-do list. And when the “to do” items pile up, we begin to feel stressed because there just isn’t enough time to get it all done.

In today’s society, we are all pressed for time, and there are increasing demands on our free time. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get it all done. But are we really living a healthy lifestyle if we are running from one place to the next, eating on the go and rushing through a workout just to say we did it?

Living a healthy lifestyle should be less about quick fixes and food delivery. Just as running marathons and doing cross fit five times a week shouldn’t be the standard we try to live up to in order to say we are fit and healthy.

Living a healthy lifestyle is about making small changes daily that amount to big changes over time. It’s about moving your body daily, whatever that might look like for you. It could be walking your kids to school or a 20 minute active stretching session or even taking that CrossFit class twice a week instead of five because you LOVE it and that’s all you had time for. Healthy is eating whole foods that come from plants or animals and limiting the processed, packaged foods.

It’s about putting yourself first once in a while and taking 10 minutes out of your busy day for a nap, meditation or reading a book before bed. Living a healthy lifestyle is about getting together with friends to reconnect and recharge. So for just one evening, you can feel human again and more than just a mom. It’s about having some Maman time, some personal time, where you make you a priority.

These three ladies are my squad, my lifeline, my best friends. As busy mom's getting together isn't always easy but we make it a priority to reconnect as often as we can.

Healthy is making your sleep important and not letting a Netflix binge get in the way of it ;). Healthy is drinking water daily so you can feel alert and ready to conquer the day. Healthy is snuggling with your kids after a long day instead of doing the dishes because you both need that connection (and anyways, the dishes can wait).

Living a healthy lifestyle may look differently for everyone because we are biochemically individual with differing priorities and resources. My definition of living a healthy lifestyle may be different than yours and that is ok. We’re all doing our best and that is what we should strive for. Hard stop. Let’s stop pressuring ourselves to meet up to someone else’s expectations of what healthy is and remember that slowing it all down once in awhile is better for our health than checking off all the items on our list.

I have a little challenge for all you out there struggling to get it all done: what can you take off your list TODAY that will provide you with a little Maman time?

Much love,

Natasha