Positive lifestyle choices – the benefits
Positive lifestyle choices include:
- taking part regularly in physical activity
- eating a balanced diet
- getting sufficient sleep
- balancing school/work and other commitments
- making time for relaxation and leisure pursuits
- having good personal hygiene
- recognising the emotional, social and physical implications of sexual relationships
- avoiding or minimising harmful risks, eg smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs
- managing risks in the wider environment, eg road safety, in the home
- seeking information about or support for concerns, eg friends, family, doctor, teacher
Benefits
A healthy lifestyle offers two types of benefits – things people want to gain, for example increased mobility, and things people want to prevent, for example becoming overweight which may result in longer term health issues. People are often motivated more by gains than by prevention. Benefits may be immediate and long-term.