Ten Ways To Lead A Holistic Lifestyle
‘a holistic approach means to provide support that looks at the whole person’
The word holistic has become a real buzzword in the last year or so. Everyone wants to lead a holistic lifestyle, but do we even know what holistic means and how to do it? Of course, like with anything there are sceptics, ‘non believers’ and those that think it is ‘woo-woo’ but for those that want to learn more… carry on reading!
To start with, it is important to understand the context. There are four well known aspects of wellbeing: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. It is thought that what happens with one aspect of wellbeing can affect all other aspects. Holistic health takes into consideration all these aspects and their focus on how they can work simultaneously to make us whole, happy and healthy within the environment we live in. It involves having the awareness to see the bigger picture and understand that these smaller aspects connect to a much larger whole. It is now well known that there is a direct correlation between a healthy person, a healthy mind and a healthy life.
Remember that there are so many ways to live a holistic lifestyle, there is no ‘one size fits all’ or ‘right’ way to do it. What works for one person may not work for another. Like with everything, do what feels right for you. It is also not just about meditation, eating only organic produce, using plants for healing and becoming a yogi… it is so much more than that. It refers to all parts of yourself. Within this lifestyle, you must consider that all parts of you are connected and they all have influences on each other.
None of the below are particularly mind blowing ways of leading a holistic lifestyle. They are all things we kind of already know but are also things we tend to put off. But it’s now time to give it a go. What’s the worst that can happen?
- Practice Mindfulness — an important part of holistic living is living in the present; being in the here and now. In this fast paced, chaotic world that we live in where we are always switched on thinking ahead to the future or back to the past, it’s crucial to feel grounded and calm
- Regular Self Care — I am a big self care supporter. It is great for easing stress, burn out, fatigue and anxiety. Listening to your body is a essential part in leading a holistic lifestyle. You must love it and treat it with respect
- Treat Your Body With Natural And Healthy Superfoods — being intentional with good quality, natural, whole food ingredients in your diets is also useful. They make you feel better on both the inside and out. Food can be a medicine and the right ones are full of incredible nutrients which offer impressive health benefits as well as improving your immune system and energy levels. Remember living a holistic life does definitely not mean forgoing the ice cream tub, sweet jar, glass of wine and pizza on the weekend. It’s all about balance, creating and finding the best, happiest and healthiest version of yourself
- Unplug Once In A While — yes, the internet is one of the best innovations of the 21st century and we definitely couldn’t have gotten through the last few months without it. However, it really does help to turn off your devices and switch off from the virtual world
- Engage In Physical Activity —any form of physical activity is good for you. It makes you feel good because of the release of endorphins and increase of dopamine and serotonin levels. These hormones and chemicals are like a magic potion, full of happy chemicals. So say no more…it doesn’t have to be a heavy weights session or going on a 5k run, dancing, trampolining with the kids, a beach walk, some simple stretching or some yoga will do the job!
- Think Positive Thoughts — replace those negative thoughts you have in your brain with positive ones. Positivity attracts positivity and negativity attracts negativity. One of the simplest equations to understand. Think happy thoughts, you’ll get it all back. Let go of the negative energies that don’t serve you and put your energy towards the things that add value and purpose to your life
- Grow Yourself — there is so much to learn, so much that you can add to your life no matter your interests. Learning = growing. Find that deeper connection within yourself
- Stop Rushing — you are not too busy. You must make time for the things you want to do and the things that add to your day. Stop amongst the chaos and take a breath
- Gratitude — sometimes we are so enveloped in everything else going on in our lives, we find it hard to stand back and be thankful for what we have. Then we feel guilty and regret being ungrateful. The life we are living is a gift and all of our existence’s are precious. Appreciate and be grateful for everything, for those we love, for our experiences (good and bad), for our health, the list goes on. Gratitude brings us happiness, not the other way round
- Strong Connections — our health and the environment we surround ourselves in is also a result of the people we have in our lives. Friends or family, strong social connections with like-minded people who want the best for you can help support your holistic lifestyle
Consistency is key in leading a holistic lifestyle. At first it can seem like a lot of work, but it will do wonders for your mind, body and spirit. Leading this lifestyle means that you are committed to living a meaningful life to the best of your abilities, making sure that your mind, body and soul are happy and healthy.
If you have any more questions or would like to make a start or even improve your holistic lifestyles then please do let me know as I’d love to help!
