By prioritizing these foundational behaviors, individuals can cultivate a strong foundation for holistic well-being and success in various aspects of life. Focusing energy here is also a way to improve health.

Restorative Sleep: Ensuring adequate and quality sleep rejuvenates both the body and mind, enhancing cognitive function, mood regulation, and overall vitality. By prioritizing restorative sleep, individuals can optimize their productivity and resilience in facing daily challenges.

Effective Stress Management: Developing healthy coping mechanisms and stress-reduction techniques empowers individuals to navigate life's pressures with resilience and composure. By prioritizing effective stress management, individuals can mitigate the negative impact of stress on their physical and mental well-being, fostering a sense of balance and inner peace.

Healthy Nutrition: Nourishing the body with balanced and nutritious food fuels physical health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being. By prioritizing healthy nutrition, individuals can optimize their energy levels, immune system, and overall vitality, laying the groundwork for long-term health and resilience.

Meaningful Connection: Building and nurturing meaningful connections with others fosters a sense of belonging, support, and emotional fulfillment. By prioritizing meaningful connection, individuals can cultivate a strong social support network, enhancing their resilience in facing life's challenges and promoting overall happiness and well-being.

Regular Movement: Incorporating regular physical activity into daily routines promotes physical health, mental well-being, and overall vitality. By prioritizing movement, individuals can improve cardiovascular health, enhance mood regulation, and reduce stress, contributing to a holistic approach to well-being and success in various aspects of life.

The American College of lifestyle medicine adds in 6th behavior.  I focus on the five because they are behaviors and habits that we can add; the 6th is a reduction or elimination of a behavior.  I truly believe when you focus on the 1st 5 the 6th will fall away as you engage in more and more healthy behaviors.  You might also require medical intervention or professional counseling to reduce or eliminate risky substances from your lifestyle.  They are often used for coping with traumatic life insurances, as avoidance behaviors, or can cause physical symptoms with cold Turkey withdrawal.

Avoidance of Risky Substances: Minimizing or eliminating the use of harmful substances such as nicotine, vaping, illegal drugs, and excessive alcohol safeguards both physical and mental health. By prioritizing the avoidance of risky substances, individuals can protect themselves from addiction, cognitive impairment, and other negative consequences, promoting clarity of mind and overall well-being.

When setting a goal pick something that feels 90% doable.  Pick low hanging fruit, in this way you build self-confidence, feel what winning is like and know that you can conquer even things that seem too big at the current moment.  What area can you set a goal in to improve your health today?  Goals are not one and done they have action steps to achieve the greater goal. 

If you need help, I'd love to chat and see if one-on-one health coaching is your next step to gaining the healthy lifestyle you dream of. 

What are your foundational goals in each areas?

Restorative Sleep:

Effective Stress Management:

Healthy Nutrition:

Meaningful Connection:

Movement:

This is also something to consider when making life changes. You may need to seek professional help or join a NA, AA or OA group. These groups are free, anonymous and deliver a level of support that most need to get free from risky substances.  Celebrate Freedom is also a group that is free and usually offered in a church setting to help people deal with a variety of addictions.

Elimination of Risky Substances: