Perfect Lifestyle Does Not Mean Perfect Health

A little break from learning about different types of headaches!

I'd like to take some time to address something I've observed in private practice when talking with a person about their lifestyle. Maybe you have experienced this: You're sitting with a doctor and they're asking you questions about what's brought you in for a visit and one question that is almost always asked is, "How is your lifestyle? Specifically, 1. Diet, 2. Physical activity level, and more recently 3. Sleep quality." Maybe at this point you feel like you've just been asked a loaded question. And fair enough, it is a big question to ask. There are 2 very common responses I get. "Good, good and good" without any additional detail is the first. The second is extraordinary detail about each major area of their lifestyle. Both answers are great. 

What is not great is if the question made you feel uncomfortable because that is not it's intention. The intent of the question is to allow the practitioner (myself) to get deeper insight into what's going on in your life so that it can better guide me to appropriate management and treatment of what you have going on. Too many times I've had people express guilt about why they aren't living a "perfect lifestyle". So that is something I'd like to talk about. 

A perfect lifestyle does not exist. A perfect diet does not exist. A perfect physical activity regimen does not exist. A perfect sleeping routine does not exist. Whatever your current lifestyle is is fine. Can we all make improvements to our lifestyles? Of course! Does that mean these improvements have to make our lifestyle perfect? Absolutely not, perfect doesn't exist.

Constantly being critical about your lifestyle and feeling as though you haven't done enough can be harmful to your health and well being. Even if you met all of the recommended intakes of Canada's Food Guide and completed all the minutes of recommended physical activity for an average Canadian adult, that doesn't guarantee that you'll be perfectly healthy (or even happy!). Yes, eating a well-balanced diet and getting regular physical activity has been demonstrated again and again to encourage good health. But if it highly stresses you out and decreases your quality and enjoyment in life then that is a negative to your health as well. Unmanaged stress levels have also been demonstrated again and again to have negative impacts on your health.

Everyone is doing their best to live a comfortable life. Always challenge yourself to make small improvements where possible. Celebrate your small wins but don't beat yourself up if your efforts don't succeed. Your best effort is more than enough.

Okay, no more ranting from me. Have yourself a wonderful day and do your best to always challenge yourself with small lifestyle improvements.