A health compromising behavior is any behavior that harms your physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual well being. Some behaviors can be both enhancing and compromising depending on the quantity, individual person, circumstances, and intensity.

Everyday people are presented with opportunities to choose. Good, bad, ugly, we make all sorts of choices. It is best to focus on making health enhancing behaviors, or choices that promote good physical, psychological, or social wellness. However, it is also important to be aware that there are many decisions we make that are health compromising behaviors or mindsets. Avoiding entirely, minimizing or regulating, and being aware of the effect that these negative choices have our overall welfare is essential.

While everyone is unique, there are some universals that are shown to compromise one’s functioning and health. Everyone knows that being drunk and recklessly driving a car is not likely going to end well, health compromising pretty obviously. However, some things have the ability to be enhancing or compromising. Take drinking for example, a glass of wine with some friends (if you are 21+) can be fun, social, recharging, and positive for your mental health. Getting wasted everyday, having legal issues, health problems from your drinking, not so good. Being self aware of the decisions you make and what is compromising your health really matters.

Examples of Health Compromising Behaviors

There are so many different ways to compromise your health, humans are great at finding new ways to destroy themselves! This is a brief list of a few things that can harm your health, but there are far more than just this list.

• Substance abuse (drugs, recreational, pharmaceutical, alcohol)
• Toxic relationships
• Unhealthy diet
• Reckless sexual behaviors
• Stress
• Excessive screen time
• Lack of physical activity
• Negative mindsets, thoughts, views of self
• Not dealing with problems/issues
• Untreated mental illness
• Destructive or dangerous choices
• Lack of self awareness
• Being reactive and not proactive about health decisions
• Not going to doctors

There are far more ways to harm your mental and physical health, this is just a few examples. Being aware of the choices you make and they influence every area of your life is a great place to start. While it is important to recognize the negative behaviors you may have, it is far more important to seek health promoting, positive behaviors and pay less attention to the negative. Focus on the path you want to be on, not the avoidance of the bad. One small decision at a time can make all the difference!