What does the word ‘lifestyle’ mean to you?
If we did a Family fortunes style survey and asked 100 people what ‘lifestyle’ means to them I bet we’d get at least fifty different answers...
So hazy its lazy
It’s hard enough for people to stay healthy without throwing hazy words in their way. To me lifestyle is one of them. Hazy, vague, pick your favourite adjective…
Fit for the bin?
So why should we let go of lifestyle? After all we’ve always used it...
Just because we’ve always done something doesn’t mean its good. Or that we should keep doing it. We used to use Lucozade as a remedy for colds for god’s sake!
Too narrow
If you want to gain health mastery and thrive you need to get a handle on a lot of stuff. More stuff than just sleep exercise and diet. And there lies the problem my friend...
To most people lifestyle just means three things. What you eat. How you move. How much you sleep... But that’s a bit like saying you take good care of your Ford Mondeo because you check the tyres oil and exhaust regularly. What about the engine? The electrics? The gearbox?
Broader is better
To hit you with one example... In 2024 The World Health Organisation stated that “Talcum powder is probably carcinogenic to humans”. Loads of the stuff we put on our bodies can hinder our health. What about the stuff we watch? Listen to? Read every day?
What about the inflammatory effect of fragranced cosmetics and domestic cleaning products? These go under the radar when we talk about ‘lifestyle’. But if you’re splashing them on your body daily and they’re maybe having an effect on your health aren’t they also part of your lifestyle?
A naff detective
Imagine legendary tv cop Columbo turning up at a murder scene and writing down a list of ten possible suspects. Then he goes and just interviews four of them. Wouldn’t be doing his job would he? Especially if he went and wrongly pinned the crime on one of the four!
That’s like me feeling low and assuming it’s because I haven’t slept well. It might be. But it might not. What if its me not getting enough daylight? What if its me being in debt? What if its me not socialising enough?
All of the above are contenders. But they’re not included in ‘lifestyle’.
If not lifestyle then what?
I’m a believer its best to work from what people are familiar with rather than reinvent the wheel. That just confuses. So lets keep lifestyle but just do it better.
Better? How? I can hear you cry…
Let me leave you mulling over the idea that lifestyle in its current form leaves stuff out. If we’re going to be good thorough detectives like Columbo when it comes to our health we need to interview all of the suspects. That’s how we thrive.
In the oven
Don’t worry I’ve already created the new model. Its just browning in the oven as we speak. It’ll be ready for you to taste in part two of this blog.
Until then…
Think about the health status you have. Think about the health status you want. Think how great you’ll feel living it. Healthy living is simple. You just gotta stay focused. On the stuff that really counts.
Jonathan Pittam
Wellness Speaker
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