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Culture & Lifestyle | Health and Fitness

11 habits of fit, healthy (and truly) happy people

Text: Yeong Sassall

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1. They have goals. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you get there? Although I feel as if I’ve said this a thousand times, I’ll say it one more time just in case it hasn’t sunk in.

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“Have goals for your fitness”. a) Write down what it is that you want to achieve, b) When you want to achieve it by c) Map out what needs to be done to take you from point A (where you are) to point B (where you want to be). Don’t be scared to ask the universe for what you want either; just make sure you’re then willing to work for it.

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2. They follow the 80/20 rule. There’s no such thing as “perfect” in life. Far too many people believe they need to be 100% perfect with their training, nutrition, and lifestyle that it leaves no wiggle room for the realities (and amazingness) that you’ll often find in the uncertainties of life.

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Because you should never feel like a failure for missing a workout or eating a “naughty” meal. After all, what’s fitness without happiness? Can you even call that true health? Focus on eating and training perfectly 80% of the time, then allow yourself the other 20% to eat a few “naughtier” things, miss a workout, or have a sleep in every now and again!

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3. They find what works best for them. Healthy and happy people tend to find what truly works best for them rather than just blindly following someone else’s approach hoping it fits. Sure, you may not “love” the discomfort that comes with getting fitter and healthier, but at the very least you need to like what you’re doing.

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Don’t feel that you need to fit into the mould of what you think you should be doing. Try things out and then just take the best and leave the rest. Because when you enjoy what you’re doing you’ll be much more likely to continue it for long enough to get the results you deserve.

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4. Commitments > Comforts. If you’re ever going to get the body or fitness level that you want, you need to make sure that your commitments outweigh your comforts. Life will always be weighed heavily towards those cushy comfort zones we love so much, but as the saying goes “nothing good happens inside your comfort zones”.

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If you want to truly build your fitness, then you need to lean away from the comforts and into discomfort – you know, those bad places where the goodness happens. Remember, strength comes from struggle.

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5. Don’t take health too seriously. Read #2 again – because it’s not healthy to be constantly stressed about your health. Chill, bro.

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So, eat the chocolate, drink the wine, and smile while you’re goddamn doing it (in moderation).

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6. They don't take themselves too seriously. Happiness can happen far more often if you’ll allow space for it. People that can trip up the stairs and still just smile and laugh at themselves without feeling the negative emotions of guilt, embarrassment, or shame. When you can look back at your memories with a smile on your face, you’re far more likely to live a happier life.

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Basically, what I’m trying to say is that you should just embrace the fact that we, as humans, are all flawed and (often) awkward AF. Oh, and most of the time people won’t even notice as they’re too busy looking at their phones anyway.

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7. They take their training seriously. Fit people only get fitter by fighting for it. As I mentioned earlier, strength comes from struggle, not when you just “go through the motions”.

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Fit people continue to push themselves. They choose to give 100% of what they have, regardless of how painful it is, because they understand that on the other side of that pain is the person they want to be (now re-read #1).

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8. They’re grateful. Gratitude changes everything. Healthy and happy people are ALWAYS grateful people. They choose to focus on the goodness in their life, despite what negative things might be happening at the time.

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Because what you choose to focus on is what you’ll feel. Always try to focus on the positives, as a negative mind will never lead you to a healthy and happy life.

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9. They’re connected (no, not just on social media). Feeling a sense of deep connection with the world is one of the major contributing factors to our happiness as humans. Because although your fitness may come and go, strong bonds with those closest to us (often) last forever.

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Happy people make their relationships a priority, ensuring they have deep and meaningful conversations that make them feel loved and cherished. And no, social media friends don’t count if you couldn’t also pick up the phone to be there for someone who needs to talk, or feel you could reach out to someone if you needed to. "Connection" should be about depth, not width.

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10. They contribute to others in a positive way. “Life’s not about me, it’s about we”. Contributing to a cause greater than ourselves will often lead us down a path of happiness and fulfilment unlike any other. This leads on nicely from the above point as "contribution" is another way to better connect with the world around us.

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And of all the things we could contribute, our time is often the thing that people value most as it’s the only non-renewable resource in life. So, if you’re not feeling entirely happy or fulfilled today, try this; contribute to as many other people's lives in a positive way without regards for your own happiness and see how you feel at the end of the day. You may just find you get something in return you wouldn’t expect.

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11. They have a form of personal meditation. I’d say that 99% of all truly healthy and happy people that I’ve come across have all found a “form” of personal meditation.

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It didn’t matter whether it was one of the more traditional forms of meditation or just a piece of peace in their day – they all shared time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. When you’re able to disconnect from the often fast and frantic pace of life, you’re better able to reconnect with the world.

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James Anderson reveals the daily hacks and rituals that every healthy person does without thinking

What's the secret to health, happiness and inner peace? Trainer James Anderson sheds some light on the matter.

Click through the gallery above to see how to be healthier, happier and fitter in just 11 steps.

health and fitness

James Anderson

Culture and Lifestyle

health tips

fitness habits

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