Health | Healthy Lifestyle

Why Ten Thousand Steps a Day Has Me Walking into a Complete Holistic Lifestyle

Dancing Elephants Book Project Health & Wellness group 1

“The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is the goal and wellness is the active process of achieving it.” ~Medicinenet.com

I hear the two words used interchangeably. To me, the two words imply a complete lifestyle that embraces all dimensions of achieving our full potential in a balanced way. Those dimensions include exercise, eating well, living in a safe environment, emotional wellness, financial well-being and management, spiritual well-being, and quality sleep.

I like to look at the dimensions like the spokes on a tire. If any of those areas need attention the tire would become flat around that spoke. So, it is important to assess each dimension often and take inventory as to which area might need more attention.

Practicing self-care and raising emotional intelligence are two ways to ensure solid health and wellness. Raising emotional intelligence creates awareness and awareness is the catalyst for change. Self-care allows us to nurture both our bodies and mind.

I personally have tried to live as healthfully as I can because I want to age gracefully and enjoy each year. I do not mind aging, but I do not want to be miserable or immobile in my elderly years. Nor do I want to lose my memory.

What am I personally doing to improve my health and wellness?

• Walking 10,000 steps a day, or at least trying.
• Eating a vegetarian/ plant based whole foods diet and limiting the amounts of sugar, processed foods, and cheese that I consume.
• Drinking an ounce of water per pound that I weigh, in other words staying hydrated.
• Practicing good sleep habits. I am honestly still trying to improve this one by turning off electronics earlier, but it’s a process.
• Practicing yoga and meditation daily.
• Reading at least twenty minutes daily to stimulate my mind.
• Lifting weights to keep my muscles toned and doing core strength exercises to improve balance.

What has walking 10,000 steps a day taught me?

Walking 10,000 steps daily is more challenging than I originally expected it to be. I started walking outside at the beginning of covid as a way to salvage my sanity. I would take long walks and was inspired by the beautiful signs I saw that people put in their yards. Walking 10,000 steps is meditative and creates awareness in many areas of my life which is why I am determined to make it an ongoing habit. I increase my steps by parking further away from where I am going, walking several laps around my house each time I let my dogs inside or out, dancing around the kitchen as I cook, and taking several short walks a day or one long walk.

During Covid, alking was a way to stay healthy, connect with nature, reduce anxiety, and I loved how I felt. My watch tracked how many steps I had taken. So, I challenged myself to try to get 10,000 steps a day.

Once life resumed, I did not stick with my walks as often. Now that spring is here once again, I decided to resume my quest to achieve 10,000 steps daily. This time I would like to make it a lifelong routine.

Why I want to make 10,000 steps a lifelong routine and what I enjoy:

• I am more energized.
• I have a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day.
• I spread my steps out, starting with 1,000 right at the beginning of the morning to ensure I achieve my goal. It brings awareness to the movement in my day.
• I am more aware of what I am eating and desire a more nutritious diet. When I say diet, I am not limiting what I eat, but instead making healthy choices to fuel my body.
• I can think more clearly and feel less anxiety.
• I feel stronger in my legs, and I feel I can breathe better.

I have researched and learned that apparently there are not many health benefits to walking 10,000 steps as opposed to 5,000 to 7,000 steps a day. But the way I look at it is it does not hurt. So, the days when I only get 6,000 steps, and that does occasionally happen, I know I am still living a healthy lifestyle. I know according to research studies I will achieve my maximum lifespan as long as I maintain this lifestyle and no unexpected illness occurs.

I love to cook and eat healthy meals. It gives me a sense of lightness. Occasionally I eat fried food because it tastes good, but boy I can really tell a difference in how I feel. Pay attention to how you feel after you eat. Consider even journaling how you feel right after you eat and then a couple hours after you eat. Does your food leave you satisfied? Does it keep you full? Do you find yourself having cravings? If so, that is your body’s way of telling you it is not satisfied and out of balance.

“If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.” ~ Author Unknown

Each small improvement I make in my daily routine is an investment in my life.

Think about that. Are you investing in your own well-being on a daily basis? If not, why? You are your greatest asset. There is no time like the present moment. It is never too late to get started and make small improvements.

Our bodies and minds are directly linked. If we are anxious and hold negative feelings in, those will eventually manifest into physical illness in our body. Likewise, when we feel ill physically that wears on our minds and causes depression and anxiety.

“It is more important to understand the imbalances in your body’s basic systems and to restore balance, rather than name the disease and match the pill to the ill.” ~Mark Hyman, M.D.

Conclusion

~Remember, exercise does not have to mean going to the gym or walking 10,000 steps. It can be yardwork or playing with your children or dog. As long as you are moving that is what matters.

~Eating well does not have to be complicated. Eat smaller portions. Try to cook at home. If you eat out, try making healthy choices. Eat colorfully to ensure a variety of vitamins and minerals. Kick soda to the curb and reach for more water. Consider eating less processed foods.

~Practice good sleep habits by going to bed at the same time and waking at the same time daily. Turn off electronics a couple hours prior to sleep.

~Practice meditation to calm the mind.

~Do something to activate your mind. Read, play cards, watch podcasts, play sudoku. Keeping the mind active helps prevent memory loss.

~Practice self-care. Listen to what your body and mind need. A day of rest can go a long way and can make us more productive in the long run.

~Surround yourself with supportive people who raise your energy and make you laugh and create light energy good for the soul.

Thank you so much to my editorial team: Lady Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, and Sharing Randomly I appreciate all of your hard work as well as the inspiration of all of the other amazing authors that are a part of this collaboration!

I hope these tips for living well help inspire you. I appreciate you taking the time to read this article. I am super passionate about health and wellness. My dad passed away on January 1st, 2021, at the ripe age of ninety. He traveled all the way until the last six months of his life and felt great. I have great genes, but I also want to do my part to look and feel great as I enter the second half of my life. Be well. I invite you to click here to join the Medium Partner Program with my affiliate link.

Love & Light,

Libby