Achieving the ultimate well-being with your family should be structured just like any other goal. Image by photostock

Do you find yourself saying “I’m so tired all the time” or “I just can’t get myself in the mood to do anything” or “I’m just not happy with my life”, then you know that it’s time for a change. There are many reasons as to why one may feel tired or unhappy with life. It would be hard to cover in one post all the things that one can do to be truly happy and achieve that true well-being that we all need and although life can be full of challenges at times, I do believe that everyone can achieve ultimate well-being. It does take commitment from your part and it takes looking into five key areas of your life that influence your overall life and well-being greatly. The five key areas are: sleep, your eating habits, your physical activity, your social life, and your mental/emotional aspect. Why these five areas of your life and not any other area? Because these are the areas (although there are many) that greatly influence everything in your life.

1.How is your sleep?

Are you sleeping enough? Are you sleeping well? I put sleep at the top of the list because sleep influences everything from your mood, your ability to make decisions, your hunger, your physical performance and your relationships with others. Don’t underestimate the power of sleep. When you sleep, this is when your body is recuperating from the “wear and tear” of the daytime life. Your immune system is being repaired, tissues are growing and repairing, sleep aids with your memory and the list goes on and on of all the health benefits of sleep. There is a reason why we are biologically hardwired to sleep- it’s essential. So ask yourself if you are getting enough sleep. Are you sleeping well and if not, then why? Perhaps that lack of energy that you feel or that “not being in the mood” for anything can come from a lack of proper sleep. Lack of sleep does bring the worst out of us. Also, when you lack sleep, the hormone responsible for signaling you that you are hungry increases, and the one responsible for signaling that you are full decreases. In essence, your night life affects your day life so make sure you are getting enough sleep.

2. Are you eating foods that nurture your body?

Believe it or not, everything that you eat has an effect on every part of your body. Not eating foods that contribute to your health is detrimental to your overall life in the sense that when you don’t eat right, your body can’t provide you with the energy that you need to perform your tasks. Everything that you eat has an effect on your cells, your brain, your muscles and so you want to make sure that if you want to be in the best of moods, if you want to have lots of energy that you are feeding your body right. If you don’t take care of yourself, there is no way you can take care of others as well.

3. Are you physically active?

Physical activity is so much more than just about losing weight. It is about improving your overall health. When you are physically active, endorphins are released and these are the feel good hormones. This is one of the reasons why you feel so good after you exercise. Exercising helps your blood circulate better in the body, helps your body transport oxygen more efficiently and it helps your body be stronger. Find an exercise that works for you. You don’t have to do any hard, challenging workout, just get yourself moving. As many say “A body in motion stays in motion” and this is so true.

4. How healthy are your relationships with others?

Many may take for granted the importance that their relationships with others have in their life. It is critical to cultivate healthy relationships at home, with close friends and to have people in your life who are loving, encouraging and supportive. Being around those who are less than loving, encouraging and supportive can be detrimental to one’s health. As human beings we are social beings, therefore, it is crucial for us to bond with others but it is important to bond with those who help us in our growth as a person. When you don’t have healthy relationships in your personal life, this spills over on to other areas of your life because there is no way you can interact with others in a healthy way when at home there is no love or when you are in an abusive relationship. We are meant to help each other grow and be better people so take a look at the relationships that you have with others and make sure these are relationships that add to your life, not deplete from your life.

5. How is your mental and emotional state?

This is very important because your mental state influences your emotional state and vice versa and these have a strong connection with your physical state. How do you view your life? How do you view yourself? Your perception of yourself impacts your life. How do you feel about your life? This too is equally important because I do believe that your emotions are an indicator of where you are in your life and where you need to be. It is important to embrace your emotions and to understand them but not to remain in any negative emotion. It is important to take control of your mind and with this I mean your thoughts. Your mind is a very powerful asset that you own.

If you want to achieve ultimate well-being, you have to start with the basics and these five key areas are the basis for your happiness. When you are in balance and centered, you will notice other areas of your life falling into place. Sleeping well, eating right, being physically active, cultivating healthy, loving relationships and keeping your mental and emotional state in check are just the beginning to having that balance and life that you so crave. When you are right, everything else in your life will be right. But when any of these areas are not right, little by little other areas will be affected as well, leading to more decline in your overall health.

Aura Elena Martinez is a Wellness and Life Coach, Blogger and Writer, owner and founder of Live to the Max™