During the Covid-19 pandemic, populations with high rates of chronic conditions have suffered the most. In our previous blog we focused on the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle ecosystem to reduce the prevalence of such chronic conditions, and we outlined how this system could be created. 

In this blog we go into more detail about what actually constitutes a healthy lifestyle. We will also explain why it’s important to focus on lifestyle in a holistic manner and how the different components of lifestyle impact one another.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ARE KEY TO:

• Preventing disease

• Mitigating or overcoming disease

• Strengthening immune systems naturally

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE – A DEFINITION

A healthy lifestyle is comprised of the daily choices you make, which will help you to maintain or improve your overall health and wellbeing. These choices include your sleep, stress, happiness, exercise and nutrition, which are all largely within your control.

THE 5 PILLARS OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE:

SLEEP – Sleep is one of the most overlooked components of a healthy lifestyle. Lack of quality sleep has a major negative effect on other aspects of lifestyle. This can lead to excess stress, unwanted weight gain and many other serious conditions. Waking energized and rested in the morning contributes to happiness and is a cornerstone of good health.

STRESS MANAGEMENT – In the words of endocrinologist Hans Selye: “Its not stress that kills us, but our reaction to it”. Excess stress has a material negative impact on other areas of our lifestyle. Fortunately, we can learn skills to eliminate avoidable stress and manage the unavoidable.  

HAPPINESS – Happiness is a general state of mind that can be enhanced by our actions and attitude. Some people believe happiness is just a matter of luck, but the latest science shows that there are many actionable steps you can take to boost your happiness. Outlook, mindfulness and gratitude are key components.

EXERCISE – A healthy exercise regime incorporates training that improves mobility, muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance. Regular exercise is great for mental health and will enhance your overall wellbeing.

NUTRITION – Good nutrition is proper fuel for your body and mind. A healthy diet contains lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is high in other wholesome foods and low in processed foods. It also minimizes liquid calories from alcoholic and sugary beverages.

A COMMON MISPERCEPTION

Many people mistakenly believe that a healthy lifestyle is just about exercise and healthy eating. But when you are sleep deprived, very stressed and/or unhappy, you are missing key components of a healthy lifestyle. If not addressed properly, these areas can often be precursors to serious medical conditions. A healthy lifestyle starts with investing in the quality of your sleep, stress management, mindfulness and positivity.

LIFESTYLE: IT’S ALL CONNECTED

The components of lifestyle are all closely linked. Sleep, stress, happiness, exercise and nutrition all impact one another, making it essential to focus on all aspects of lifestyle collectively and not as five discrete silos. Deficiencies in one area of lifestyle can cause a downward spiral. For example, if an individual is sleep deprived, they are less likely to exercise and more likely to eat sugary foods. They will probably feel more stressed and may experience higher levels of anxiety and unhappiness, which in turn can lead to increased emotional eating. But by the same token, waking up feeling well rested and refreshed each morning, makes it easier for us to exercise and eat healthy foods. Proper exercise and nutrition gives us more energy, further boosting our confidence, helping to create a virtuous circle of healthy living.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE – RENDLE GUIDELINES

We have developed a set of healthy lifestyle guidelines based upon scientific recommendations from leading research institutions including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Sleeping for at least 7 hours per night [1]

• Walking for a minimum of 30 minutes per day [2]

• Engaging in strength training at least twice a week [3]

• Consuming at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day [4]

• Not smoking [5]

• Limiting liquid calorie consumption [6]

THE BENEFITS GO FAR BEYOND GOOD HEALTH

The benefits of healthy living are numerous. As individuals we will enjoy better health and happiness and improved immune systems. Companies that encourage and support healthy lifestyles will see higher productivity and lower costs from reduced absenteeism, presentism and medical expenses. Healthier living will reduce the level of chronic conditions, putting our healthcare systems back onto a sustainable path. It will also free up resources to improve patient outcomes through new investment in treatments and research for non-chronic disease. Healthcare will be in better shape to cope with future pandemics. All these things will have huge positive effects on our society and economy.  

For more information about how we can help drive lifestyle improvement within your organization, feel free to contact us . Thank you for your time.

We wish you true wealth.

Sources and references:

[1] Sleep and Sleep Disorders, Data & Statistics - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2020

[2] Physical activity, Data & Statistics - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2020

[3] Physical activity, Adults - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2020

[4] Nutrition - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2020

[5] Smoking & Tobacco - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2020

[6] Water and Healthier Drinks, Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2020

About RENDLE:

RENDLE helps organizations drive lifestyle improvements in a structured, data-driven manner. Our methodology guarantees populations will improve their sleep, stress management, happiness, exercise and nutrition while reducing back pain, smoking and other costly conditions. For more details about how we can help your organization improve contact us.