Lifestyle is a person’s general disposition, attitudes, interests, and behaviors, regardless of age, sex, or social status. The word was first introduced by Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler in his influential article, The Case of Miss R. with the implied meaning of “the basic nature of a person as established at a very early childhood”. In this definition, Adler relates lifestyle to “the general attitude of the person in situations”. In this way, Adler distinguishes between the attitudes and behaviors that are characteristic of humans, and which are shared by other animals.
Many changes in life can result from changes in one’s lifestyle. This includes the results of dieting (consuming less calories), adopting healthier habits, engaging in regular exercise, reducing stress, quitting smoking, changing one’s major source of wealth, changing one’s weight or shape, and many more. Changing your lifestyle to lose weight requires that you evaluate and change your habits. To evaluate your current lifestyle, try to think back to your childhood, and ask yourself:
What is my normal? For many people, “normal” means their genetic potential, combined with their body type, but for others, it is a description of their health status in relation to their ideal. For some people, being overweight is a problem. If they have tried to lose weight and have failed, they will likely feel that something is wrong with them. In this case, the solution is medical weight loss habits or lifestyle changes.
What kind of changes can I make in my lifestyle? Most lifestyle changes come through making healthy choices about the things that we choose to do and the things that we avoid doing. Some of the most common changes include adopting a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and eating healthy or balanced meals most of the time.
What kinds of behaviors or habits must I change? The first thing that you must do is accept the fact that you have a problem, that you have health problems, and that you need help. This will lead you to examine your life and determine what the problems are. Once you have determined what the issues are, you need to set goals to reach your ideal weight and healthy lifestyle. The next step is to make healthy living a part of your daily activities.
This is done by creating new healthy lifestyle habits. For example, by limiting social media consumption, you will be able to get a handle on your calorie intake. When you are on social media, it is easy to forget about your actual calorie intake, which can lead to binge on foods that are not good for you. By joining a gym or joining a class, you will be exercising regularly and keeping a track of your progress. By keeping a daily journal of your progress, you will be able to identify which habits are hindering your progress and need to be changed.
Is it hard to change my lifestyle and achieve a balanced life? Yes, it is not easy to make healthy living part of your daily activities. Changing your lifestyle is sometimes like trying to lose weight or build muscle; it is a long process. Changing your behavior is not as easy, although Alfred Dler describes it as a ‘behavioural modification program’ that “aims at helping people who suffer from weight problems in a gradual way to alter their bad habits gradually, consistently, and permanently.”
To put your perfect lifestyle shot, take a moment to look around you. What kind of people are you surrounded by? Is there anything you could change in yourself or the things around you to improve your lifestyle and put that perfect picture in your corner? Alfred Let’s online program, The Photographer’s Way, offers advice and tools that can help you achieve the kind of lifestyle photography session you’ve always wanted – without all the hassle.