Ben Bergeron has often talked about the five factors of health: how we eat, sleep, train, think and connect. Often in the fitness world, many are focused solely on the way we train. Sometimes, how we eat is mentioned as well. All of the 5 factors are important in optimizing our health and happiness.
These factors are the things relative to health that we can control. Ben is also often quoted as saying control the things you can control, and ignore everything else. We can’t control the weather; traffic; the future; other people’s happiness; but we can control how we react to these things.
Putting our effort into what we can control is the best use of our time.
EAT: Real food. Not too much. Mostly plants. (Michael Pollan) Focus your shopping on the outside aisles of the grocery store. Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you want. Avoid processed food: anything that comes in package. Plan ahead for better success.
SLEEP: 7-9 hours a night. Every night. Sleep is very underrated in the health and wellness industry yet it’s so important for recovery. Get yourself into a routine. Avoid caffeine after noon. Try black out shades. Prioritize sleep and you will feel better overall.
TRAIN: Constantly varied functional movements. This is the best way to train for longevity. As you age, you want to be able to go up and down stairs; reach something off of a higher shelf; carry your groceries into the house; run around with your grandchildren.
THINK: Never whine, never complain, never make excuses (another Ben Bergeron quote). Mindset matters! Focus on the things within your control. Cultivate gratitude.
CONNECT: Build, sustain and grow deep relationships with family and friends. Human connection is often overlooked: we are social creatures! People with deeper emotional connections live longer. Surround yourself with people who reflect the lifestyle that you want to have.
Paying attention to these 5 factors will help you have a happy, healthy life. We are here to help!
If you are already a member of our gym and want to meet with a coach to talk about your health and fitness goals, book your Goal Review session here.
If you are not a member and are interested in meeting with a coach to see how we can help you, book your No Sweat Intro here.