How To Live A Healthy Life: According To Clinical Psychologist Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson. He’s become a highly discussed public figure. Before his public introduction to fame, he was a Canadian clinical psychologist and psychology professor.
Some love him.
Some, don’t.
Dr. Peterson has content across a multitude of platforms. Instead of spending hours scrolling through content, I’ve created a shortlist of Dr. Peterson’s tips on creating a healthy life.
1. Have a family.
2. Have something that you do outside of work that is meaningful to you & useful.
3. Have a network of friends.
4. Have educational goals.
5. Attend to your mental & physical health.
6. Create a schedule: set the day up so that you can have the day you want.
Some of these points may not be for everyone at this exact moment in your life. Those tips may need to be tweaked. For instance, not everyone desires or can afford, to pursue educational goals.
Instead of thinking of it literally, think of the habits that you would like to develop. Are there books that you could invest in to further your mental development or free content on YouTube?
Another tip that could be tweaked is creating a family. Everyone doesn’t want to create a family, can afford the expansion of a family at this moment, or has created a family and is living a more independent lifestyle now. Instead of “create a family” think, what does family mean to me and how can I show my presence in the family I am currently bonded to?
Do you see?
Some tips can be tweaked, depending on your values and personal aspirations. However, the remaining tips are fundamental.
To create a balanced life, we must adopt the other principles.
Here are a few things to consider when following the guidance above — to help you get there.
2. Have something that you do outside of work that is meaningful to you & useful.
- Don’t do what everyone is doing, just to do something. You’ll place yourself in environments that drain your energy.
- Create an internal awareness. What provides you with a sense of community and well-being? Seek out more spaces, people, and environments.
- Attract don’t chase.
3. Have a network of friends.
After high school or college, it can be challenging to meet new people. Having a network of friends is important because you choose who you associate with and that makes life so much easier. If you are struggling to make friends try this:
- In the presence of others, smile more. You will be seen as more approachable.
- Challenge yourself to open conversation with others. Keep the initial conversation light and positive.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for their contact information to re-connect. Also, accept rejection. Not everyone will want to reconnect, that’s okay. Trust that’s what’s meant for you will always find you.
- Initiate face-to-face interactions. Invite them to a local place that you like. Make dinner at your home. Invite them to the bowling alley or a card game at your place, and give an okay to invite a few of their friends.
- Learn the art of giving/hospitality. “A friend in need is a friend indeed”. Friendship isn’t a one-way street. You have to develop independent traits that make you a good friend to have a supportive community of friends. Learn the art of hosting, giving to others, and being hospitable.
5. Attend to your mental & physical health.
Life is busy, but, there should always be a permanent space for mental and physical wellness.
With technology, it’s becoming easier to access tools such as guided meditations and guided yoga practices (Apple Fitness Plus & Insight Timer). A monthly subscription to Apple Fitness Plus cost less than one fast food meal and is a good investment in your mental and physical well-being.
6. Create a schedule: set the day up so that you can have the day you want.
There was a time in my life when free time was scarce. I worked 40 hours a week. Traveled two hours back and forth each day from work to home. Visited my home for 5–10 minutes twice a week before I was out the door again heading to graduate school.
Even with an insanely busy schedule, I found time to care for my mental and physical being by intentionally making it a part of my schedule. As a result, I was rarely drained from my work week. Creating a schedule prioritizes your sanity and factors in quiet time.
Overall, Dr. Peterson’s advice on how to create a healthy life is exacting, and why wouldn’t it be? He’s a practiced clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience.
Thanks for being here, and for taking the time to read my article.
I’m a researcher, former assistant professor, and self-help writer. My goal is to write articles that help my readers think, connect and grow. If you’d like more content, I host a wellness podcast that you can follow on any Apple product here or Spotify here. The podcast features voiceovers of all of my articles and wellness content.
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