What “Balanced” Actually Means
Balanced doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. In functional wellness, balance refers to supporting multiple body systems together, not optimizing one area at the expense of others. Health is influenced by how nutrition, movement, sleep, stress regulation, and recovery interact over time. Balance includes: • Eating in a way that supports energy and digestion • Moving the body regularly without overtraining • Allowing adequate rest and recovery • Managing stress load rather than eliminating stress • Adjusting habits as life demands change A routine that looks “healthy” but leads to exhaustion, restriction, or chronic stress is not balanced—even if it appears disciplined. This is one of the biggest reasons I have adopted an 80%/20% split. 80% of the time, I do what I have committed to doing. 20% of the time, I allow myself to be human. Functional wellness prioritizes adaptability and sustainability, because the body is dynamic, not static. Beginner reflection: Ask, Does this routine support me across most days—or does it require constant pushing? Functional Living Academy ✨ Inside Functional Living Academy, we define balance through function, not extremes. Sources World Health Organization (WHO) – Healthy Living Frameworkhttps://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-living Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Lifestyle Risk Factors and Preventionhttps://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/prevention.htm National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Health Across Body Systemshttps://www.nih.gov/health-information