Lifestyle Choices: A Refection of Who You Are
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Nurses often face unique challenges in achieving work–life balance due to the demanding nature of our profession. Long working hours, shift work, high patient-to-nurse ratios, physical and emotional demands, and insufficient resources all contribute to chronic workplace stressors that can impact lifestyle choices and in turn, can influence overall well-being.[1] Decades of empirical research have provided extensive evidence of the impact of stress and burnout among nurses and of the implications for both the individual and healthcare systems. Fundamentally, stress and burnout are obstacles to personal and organizational well-being. However, the absence of chronic workplace stressors does not necessarily indicate the presence of well-being. The World Health Organization declared that health is a state of “complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”[2] Well-being involves a complex interplay of physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual factors that interact with the ecosystem within which the person resides.[3] The pursuit of well-being has become an essential personal and professional goal and consideration of lifestyle choices is crucial to shaping all aspects of health. It involves recognizing that choices shape one’s physical health, mental well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life. Unfortunately, many nurses adopt unhealthy choices and habits and maladaptive coping mechanisms such as irregular eating patterns, poor sleep quality, and reduced physical activity in response to chronic workplace demands and stressors. The focus of this article is to highlight the importance of personal responsibility for lifestyle choices that lead to work–life balance and overall life satisfaction. Work–life balance is a determinant of mental health and the research consistently indicates that individuals who achieve a balanced work–life arrangement report higher levels of job satisfaction and psychological well-being.[4] Wellness and Well-being Wellness and well-being are often used interchangeably; however, they have slightly different nuances. While both speak to health, wellness refers to the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to optimal health, encompassing eight mutually interdependent dimensions, as shown in Figure 1.[5] Well-being refers to a broader, more holistic concept that reflects a person’s overall quality of life and satisfaction. Wellness focuses on “doing” while well-being focuses on “being.” A combined focus on what you do (wellness) and how you feel (well-being) leads to a more fulfilling and balanced life. This is evident in positive psychology frameworks such as PERMA,[6] which incorporates both actionable strategies (e.g. building relationships) and experiential states (e.g. achieving meaning). Wellness is the journey we take through intentional actions; well-being is the destination where fulfillment and balance reside.Figure 1: Eight dimensions of wellness[ 5 ]Wellness is concerned with living fully and is “a lifestyle and a personalized approach to living life in a way that allows a person to become the best kind of person that your potentials, circumstances, and fate will allow.”[7] Taking personal responsibility for one’s choices is a cornerstone of self-growth and accountability. It means acknowledging that our actions, decisions, and even inaction contribute directly to the outcomes in our lives. “Personal responsibility for health is critical, as both active engagement in healthy behaviors and avoidance of risky behaviors significantly reduce the likelihood of disease and improve quality of life. Inaction, such as a sedentary lifestyle or poor dietary habits, is a major contributor to adverse health outcomes.”[8] The Psychology of Lifestyle Choices Lifestyle often serves as a mirror to our values, choices, and personality. The way we live including our habits, routines, priorities, and even how we spend our time and resources, expresses who we are and what matters most to us. The things we do, the things we say, and even our appearance suggest an inner attitude about life. Lifestyle is a mixture of substance and style, refinement as well as intellect, and emotional control in times of challenge, as well as emotional control in times of joy and happiness. Making the right choices for health and well-being can be challenging. This is partly because although we know what is good for us and where we can do and be better, we might not act upon it, or if we do, in due course, we slide back to familiar ways. The psychological factors that inform our lifestyle choices are a complex blend of internal and external influences that shape how we live, what we prioritize, and how we respond to daily demands. Habits and routines are powerful influencers of behavior. Intrinsic motivation (engaging in activities because they’re inherently rewarding) often leads to more consistent and fulfilling lifestyle choices, such as hobbies or personal growth activities. Conversely, extrinsic motivation (doing things for external rewards) can drive short-term decisions, such as dieting for appearance rather than health, but might be less sustainable.[9] Research consistently demonstrates that habitual behaviors such as maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, ensuring adequate sleep, and practicing mindfulness positively impact stress levels and mood. A review published in Harvard Health highlights that regular physical activity, such as yoga and resistance training, significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, while mindfulness practices further enhance emotional resilience and stress management.[10] Cognitive behavioral approaches often explore how automatic, routine choices can shape our mental health, and focus on replacing unhelpful habits with positive ones. The science of habit formation emphasizes the power of cues and rewards in reinforcing lifestyle choices, as habits provide stability and reduce decision fatigue. “Our lives change when our habits change. Choices that reinforce healthy routines are critical to enhancing well-being and resilience in the face of adversity.”[11] Acknowledging your actions, decisions, and even inaction contributes directly to the outcomes of your life, and here is why it is crucial: Empowerment: Owning our choices gives us control over our lives. Instead of implicating external factors, the focus should be on what is possible to change or improve. When lifestyle is not aligned with goals, acknowledging this is the first step toward transformation Growth: Mistakes can become opportunities for learning. Accepting responsibility (where appropriate) and identifying opportunities for change or improvement helps in avoiding repetition of mistakes and errors Integrity: This involves being accountable, which in turn builds trust with others. When we own our decisions, others view us as being credible and honest Freedom: Letting go of blame allows us to move forward without being tied to past regrets or excuses Authenticity: Living a lifestyle that is true to our values and aspirations creates a sense of fulfillment. Taking responsibility for our choices lead toward a focus on doing better for ourselves, rather than on meeting societal or external expectations Resilience: By accepting responsibility for our lifestyle, we build mental toughness, as the focus shifts to solutions rather than on excuses and obstacles, when faced with challenges. Common Excuses - Lifestyle Choices Lack of time: “I am too busy to exercise or eat healthily.” However, the reality is that we all have the same 24 h in a day; what sets people apart is how they choose to prioritize and use their time. As Peter Drucker famously said: “Time is the scarcest resource, and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed.” Financial constraints: “I can’t afford to live a healthier lifestyle” External circumstances: “I can’t control my stress because of work or family” Blaming others: “I can’t succeed because no one supports me.” Impact of Excuses – Lifestyle Choices Making excuses about lifestyle often occurs when individuals rationalize choices or habits that contradict their goals or values, often shifting responsibility to external factors. While it is human to occasionally make excuses, consistently doing so can hinder personal growth, accountability, and meaningful change. As Jim Rohn aptly stated: “Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.” Stagnation: Excuses prevent progress by masking the need for change Loss of control: Shifting blame to external factors undermines our ability to make different choices Erosion of confidence: Repeated excuses can lead to self-doubt and a lack of trust in our ability to follow through. Overcoming Excuses Moving beyond excuses starts with recognizing them and taking responsibility for our choices. Identify patterns: Reflect on when and why we make excuses Reframe the challenge: Instead of “I don’t have time” think, “How can I create time for what matters?” Start small: Focus on manageable changes to get started, and then focus on building momentum Own the outcome: Accept that small, consistent steps are within your control, even amid challenges. Ability to Change While it is not always easy, the ability to change is one of the most defining and powerful aspects of being human. It reflects our capacity for growth, adaptation, and resilience. Change allows us to continuously evolve, and this may encompass altering habits and/or life perspectives. Change is always within reach. As Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychologist profoundly stated: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”[12] Taking responsibility does not mean controlling everything, as some circumstances are beyond our influence. However, how we respond to those circumstances is always within our power. “Taking responsibility for one’s actions is a foundational element of personal development and social accountability. It entails acknowledging the role of individual choice in shaping outcomes and is essential for fostering ethical behavior and self-regulation.”[13] Embracing a Lifestyle that Reflects Who You Are Lifestyle is a skill to be mastered, not a condition to be pursued. At its core, our lifestyle reflects our mindset, goals, and identity. It involves finding new ways to bring joy, pleasure, excitement, and substance into our lives. Lifestyle is not something we achieve simply as a result of having more; it is a result of living more…. Living more fully, living more consciously, living more joyfully, and living more appreciatively. The more fully we live, the more we do, and the more we become. Lifestyle is not a reward for all our hard efforts; it is a way of making our hard efforts more rewarding, more productive, and ultimately more meaningful. By making conscious, intentional choices, we can align our lifestyles with the person we aspire to become and design the life we desire. “Individuals experience greater life satisfaction when their actions align with their core values, suggesting that value-consistent lifestyle choices are crucial for a fulfilling life.”[14] The past is history; the present and future lie in the choices we make today. The future version of ourselves is dependent on our present self-making the right lifestyle choices. Each decision we make is an opportunity to become the best kind of person we can be, including our own view of what it means to live life fully. As a nurse and coach, my personal belief is that we can all afford to live better. It does not take money to change how we live, it just takes more deliberate thought and a greater appreciation of the real values in life. As philosopher, Albert Camus once said: “life is the sum of all your choices.” Owning our lifestyle means embracing the truth and intentionally shaping one’s life.
Author: Mary Healy
Institution: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
Language: English
Subfield: Occupational Therapy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4406291292