What does a healthy life mean to you?

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This week we celebrate National Public Health Week. This week gives us a chance to think about an answer to the question: what does it mean to live a healthy life? I mean, to be truly healthy?

So, I went to the experts. Here’s what they had to say:

The World Health Organization defines health as:

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” ¹

The National Institutes of Health Medline Plus dictionary defines health as:

“the condition of an organism or one of its parts in which it performs its vital functions normally or properly : the state of being sound in body or mind” ²

A healthy person is one who is able to live a happy, fulfilling, active, and productive life. What does this look like?

A healthy life means being grateful and reflective.

Gratitude not only increases happiness, but it also creates a sense of well-being. And, taking just a little time to reflect can make all the difference.

A healthy life means eating well.

Not sure what this means? I outline it here and here.

A healthy life means serving the community.

In fact, research shows that this is also a strategy to increase happiness.

A healthy life means being active every day.

For an adult, this means 150 minutes per week. And for a child, this means 60 minutes per day.

A healthy life means growing with purpose and managing goals.

And, if you do this in a SMART way, it also means achieving those goals!

A healthy life means getting enough sleep.

For an adult, that’s 7-9 hours per night. Need strategies to make this happen? Check out my post on getting good sleep.

A healthy life means living a long one.

I am reminded this by reading Dan Buttner’s book The Blue Zones, and also by learning from others.

A healthy life means working toward healthy relationships.

Sometimes, this means collaborating and growing together.