Don't Let Someone Else Define 'Health' For You
If you can define it then you can achieve it. If you don't define it, someone else will do it for you and they may not have your best interest in mind.
90% of my patients can’t answer this question. They go to urgent care, clinics, and even hospitals in search of it. The question: What’s your definition of health?
Most people chase a lab, a supplement, or a referral when what they lack is a working definition of health. Without it, you cannot judge if a choice moves you closer or farther from the life you want.
Welcome to the Healthy Aging Newsletter, a free publication translating trustworthy medical research into simple habits to age well, free of chronic disease. I’m Dr. Ashori, a family medicine doctor turned health coach.
Why Definitions Change Results
A definition makes tradeoffs clear: you either get more sleep or spend more time on your computer screen. Either you go for a 10-minute walk or you stay seated.
It’ll help your decisions be more clear and easier. If you know the plan then you know what health options are good for you and which you should ignore.
Walking in to your doctor’s appointment without a plan will often result in a cookie-cutter approach with cookie-cutter labs that may not move the health needle for you.
A Useful Working Definition
Health is feeling well in my body and mind today, and building a clear vision of physical and mental strength for my future.
Use this to get started, then make it yours.
Ready to translate your definition into a plan? Book your Fit Call.
The 3-Minute ‘Healthy Definition’ Exercise
1) Feel well today. List 3 signals that tell you you feel well: energy, mood, focus, digestion, pain, sleep.
2) Future vision. Describe the 70‑year‑old you in one sentence: movement, strength, independence, mental clarity, resilience.
3) One habit this week. Choose one action you can repeat 5 days this week and stick to longterm.
Real life examples:
10 squats after lunch.
A 15‑minute after‑dinner walk.
Add fiber to your breakfast.
Lights‑out 30 minutes earlier.
No internet gadgets in the bedroom.
If you want help choosing the one habit that moves everything else, book here.
Common Roadblocks & Fast Fixes
“My labs are normal, so I’m fine.”
Labs are snapshots. Your definition guides the habits that keep those numbers favorable. Chasing ‘surrogate’ markers may make you look great on paper but doesn’t always translate to the real world.
“I don’t have time.”
Keep it tiny so it fits anywhere in your day. 10 minutes is enough when you do it most days. Don’t have 10 minutes? Try 60 seconds. The goal is consistency.
“I’ve tried plans that failed.”
Plans fail when they don’t fit your life. Start with your definition, then tailor one habit at a time. What works for you won’t work for another person.
If You Want Help
I’m a family‑medicine doctor turned health coach. In a Fit Call, we define your health in one sentence, choose the highest‑leverage habit for this week, and map your next steps. Most people leave with a plan they can start the same day.
Book your Free Fit Call
Use the button or embed below. If you prefer, download the worksheet and try it on your own first.
What is one sentence that defines health for you? There are no wrong answers, only working definitions.