How to Live Healthy in an Unhealthy World

Let's face it. There are 2 extremely conflicting lifestyles that are prominent in America.

On one hand you have the people that completely base their lives around fitness. They practice regular gym attendance, adhere to a nutritious diet, and take an overall holistic approach to leading a healthy lifestyle.

However, at the other end of the spectrum lies a very different group of people. They consciously (or subconsciously) choose to eat fast food, lead an almost complete sedentary lifestyle, and perform little to no physical activity.

The unhealthy people shame the fit people, calling them vain, egotistical, and self-centered. The fit individuals view the unhealthy ones as lazy, fat, and unmotivated.

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The truth of the matter is that we live in a society that surrounds us with convenience. A convenience that encourages us to go through a drive through to pick up our next meal instead of taking half an hour to simply prepare a meal from scratch. We are also encouraged to sit in front of our televisions, iPads, and video game systems instead of going to the gym or simply doing some sort of physical activity outdoors.

A person that is strong-willed enough can accomplish any sort of goal that is placed in front of them regardless of the surrounding outside influences. Health can come in many forms, not only in the physical sense. There is also emotional and mental health as well.

We must look at all aspects of health holistically. Since I believe in health in all aspects of our lives the following is a complete list of simple activities that will allow you to enrich your mind, body, and soul.

8 Ways to Live a Healthier Life

#1 - Pack your lunch

Now this tip may seem trivial in some regards. However, you are much more likely to eat a whole nutritious diet if you pack your lunch as opposed to eating out.

This regimentation will allow you to consume a much higher concentration of vegetables and lean proteins, and fewer foods that are high in complex carbohydrates and fats.

#2 - Walk instead of drive

Now depending upon where you live, it may be feasible to walk to your destination instead of driving. You may be thinking no BLEEP, right?

Although it seems like an obvious concept, most of us do not take this approach. We drive a quarter mile to the grocery store or half a mile to the gym when it would be a better choice to simply walk.

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Walking is better for your health. Studies have shown that in population-dense areas of the world that people who use their feet as their main source of transportation live longer.

Next time you have the opportunity go for a stroll. And don't be THAT guy that waits for the closest parking spot at the gym for 10 minutes when you can walk a few extra feet? I mean you're going to be at the gym anyways right?

#3 - Don't grocery shop hungry

You may have heard this before. It has been shown to be true that shopping at a grocery store while hungry will lead you to purchase items that are unhealthy.

These items are bought more on a whim rather than out of necessity. Shop on a full stomach and avoid buyer's remorse.

#4 - Keep away negative influences

Keep away from negative influences that may impede your overall success. This can include anything from junk food in your house to people that may try to force you to stray away from your goals.

If you have ice cream inside of your house you are much more likely to consume it. Save the treats for special occasions.

#5 - Read a book instead of watching TV

This, in particular, can be difficult to stick too. After a long day of work or school, the last thing many of us want to do is think.

The television is an easy escape from the hectic world surrounding us, whereas opening a book requires us to engage our minds and think from an intellectual perspective. However, from a mental health standpoint reading provides several benefits. Besides engaging our minds we can learn about various topics that may aid in enriching our lives.

#6 - Self-reflection

Now before you go on thinking I'm talking about some hippie $hit, I'm not proposing you necessarily become a Zen master or practice some specific type of meditation. But it never hurts to reflect back upon the day and ask yourself what you could have done differently.

This will help you improve your life and make better future decisions.

#7 - Setup a gym plan

This is another area some people can improve upon.

Sure lots of people go to the gym multiple times per week, but what are they actually doing? Sometimes you will see people either too busy to workout because they are looking at their phones, or they simply look dazed and confused.

Focus on what you are doing. Go into the gym with a set plan of specific exercises you want to perform and concentrate on getting the full range of motion and receiving maximal benefits on every single set and repetition. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing at a full 100%.

#8 - Set goals

These goals can be either big or small. More specifically, the more diverse the goal the better. With nutrition, your personal life, or professionally there are things we all can do to better ourselves no matter how minuscule they appear at face value.

The Bottom Line on Your Health

The world that we live in today attempts to steer us towards a lifestyle that is not always the healthiest in nature. Instead, effort must be put in to lead a healthy lifestyle even with outside influences surrounding us.

Everywhere we look there are McDonald's advertisements, or fitness trends promising dramatically quick results in less than 30 days. Today life is predicated on the notion that easy is good, simple is good, quick is better. This simply results in us going through our lives instead of striving to achieve the highest quality of life.

Take time to lead a healthy life in an unhealthy world, and you will end up with a higher quality life.