Editor's Note  2021 SupplementRelief.com Health & Wellness Scholarship essay winner.

Living healthy can be simpler than we think. Eat your veggies, take your vitamins, exercise, and take care of yourself mentally. Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean you have to have the best body, eat salads all the time, and kill yourself at the gym every day.

The media and the norms of society view a healthy lifestyle as rare and having people believe that only specific people can achieve it. Although pushing to be healthy is constantly in the media, it's up to the individual to improve their way of living. Living a healthy lifestyle is having a balance between your health and mental health. Someone who wants to change their current lifestyle to a healthier way of living has no idea how it may seem like such a hurdle. We all say we will get on "diets" and start that and later on fail within a week. And that is when many people quit because it may seem like an unachievable thing. The thing is that living a healthier lifestyle goes beyond your eating habits. It does play a significant role in your health, but many fail to understand that a balanced diet, balanced exercise routine, and focusing on your mental health matter can play a massive role in the way you live.

Eat Mostly Nutritious Foods with "Bad Foods" in Moderation

Nutrition plays a significant role in how you feel physically and mentally. Often lack of nutrients can lead to lack of energy and have common ties with many mental health diseases. Instead of depriving yourself of "unhealthy" food, you need to have a balanced diet as it is more attainable to living well. Balance means getting in the appropriate nutrients by eating enough and fueling your body with veggies, fruits, carbs, etc. You can eat healthily but also occasionally enjoying the so-called labeled "bad foods." Bashing yourself overeating a slice of pizza will not make you happy in the long run. Eat your foods and know what is appropriate to reach your goals because you have that control. Do not forget that there is no such thing as "bad foods" and instead limit yourself to a reasonable balance. Although Individuals have different health goals, some want to lose weight, gain weight, or gain muscle. Your diet will be different from others, and that's okay. Find a diet that works for you because everybody is different. So, it doesn't matter your goal or what you are trying to achieve; consider adding vitamins and supplements to your diet. Supplements are often overlooked but are extremely important. It can be very challenging even to meet those nutrient goals. Taking your essential vitamins can help support your well-being when you are not getting enough nutrition from the foods you are eating. Remember that balance is necessary, and it can be more beneficial than completing cutting those foods off.

Have an Exercise Routine

Exercise is essential. You need to be moving your body to achieve a healthier lifestyle, and it can be intimidating to go to the gym for the first time or go for a run. If you aren't physically active, starting will be hard. Still, once your body gets that daily exercise, it will be rewarding, and if you are consistent, that will change everything. Consistency is essential when exercising; that consistency will become a habit. Soon exercising will be a part of your lifestyle without you realizing it. For many people, exercising can be a form of therapy. When you exercise, you are pushing yourself, releasing stress, moving your body, and getting that physical activity your body needs-again, your body needs to be moving. You can go for a walk, exercise for 30 minutes, or even 10 minutes! As long as you're moving daily, that gets you closer to improving your health. Having a balanced exercise routine that keeps you consistent is best. Balance is taking rest days when it's needed-sleeping well, getting those total eight hours of sleep to recover. While you sleep, your body is working, and your body needs sleep to perform its best and feel well. Your mood can change with simply getting enough sleep, better mood, more positivity, better performance.

Your Mental Health Matters

Take care of your body but remember that taking care of your mental health matters. Without a healthy mind, you will decrease the chances of eating healthy and getting up to exercise. Your mind controls you every day. What you do without feeling good about yourself, filled with negative thoughts, is hurting you. Self-care matters; do something for yourself that makes you happy and break from things in your life that are causing stress or anxiety. Feeding yourself negative thoughts and excuses will damage you. Remember that a healthy mind comes first, and a healthy body comes next. Constantly thinking negativity and telling yourself you cannot do these simple things can cause It to become true. While if you're optimistic about your health journey, you will be most likely to achieve anything.

Balance is the Key

Being an adult is challenging; you have to juggle not only trying to do what is best for your health but also going to work, taking care of your children, and its hard and overwhelming. People come home tired from work, with no energy to exercise. It can be even easier to pick up some fast food on the way instead of cooking a meal. Then it turns into a habit. Having a set routine will help your health goals. Having. Set the time to take your vitamins and supplements in the morning, preparing your food at night, meal prepping to save you time, and having time to exercise. Without a set schedule, you will feel overwhelmed with everything going on in your life that will burn you out because you are not incorporating healthy habits; as soon as you fall into the hole, it will be harder for you to get out. That is why people don't even try to improve themselves. The key is to keep going but remember that Balance is critical. Balance will make your healthy lifestyle enjoyable and attainable.