When I scroll through my Instagram, I used to follow fitness fanatics, meal prep experts, and people who had fun cooking videos for inspiration. Little did I know at the time, that these videos showed the best versions of what people posted. It didn’t show the grind that people went through to produce the results they created.  

Media is a blessing and a curse.  Our algorithms tell us what our interests are. It shows us what we want to see. Even if it means lying to ourselves about what we’re doing.  

Societal standards don’t consider the mess that life brings. When the work meeting gets in the way of your lunch or your kids cry for your attention, taking care of yourself can be a lot of work. Pulling yourself together just to make it through the day can be a struggle. What we see works for others doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for us.  

We tend to forget that health is individualistic. What healthy may look like to me may be different to you. Our taste preferences are different, our work schedules may not align, and my way of destressing may add stress to your life. If no two people are alike, then our ways of taking care of ourselves won’t necessarily look alike either. It’s unfair to set our health standard at a place that doesn’t fit the context of our situation. For instance, risotto or steak may be nice. But if I barely have time to get a meal together it’s probably not going to happen.  

I’ve learned that assessing my own needs has been the best way to determine what health looks like for myself.  Some days I feel like having a coffee and a bagel to start my day. Other days I want Greek yogurt with berries and honey. Neither option means I am dishonoring my body. We often put too much pressure on ourselves to make the “right” choice to be healthy that we lose the entire picture.  

If you had a brownie for breakfast and this is your effort to eat something, I’m proud of you. If your meal was an Uncrustable, you did an awesome job. The big question is not what we eat or do. It is how we show up for ourselves in our own way.  

Comparing your own lifestyle to someone who does not know your context is an unfair way to measure your well-being. Take things one step at a time. You got this! The smallest change can be the biggest one. Because it’s the one that gets you going.