Deep Health: The Missing Link Between Wellness and Lasting Change
- Desiree Salzer
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
What if your habits—those daily choices we try so hard to manage—aren’t really about willpower at all?
What if they’re shaped by something much deeper, something often invisible?
Lately, you may have seen me share thoughts about behavior change—specifically how it doesn’t start with motivation or discipline. It starts with your body—your first environment. The space where every thought, feeling, and action begins.
Today, I want to introduce you to a model that changed everything for me. It’s called Deep Health, and it might shift the way you see your wellness journey, too.
Beyond Surface-Level Wellness
Many of us are taught that wellness is about what we do—whether we exercise, eat "right," or avoid bad habits.
But the truth is, habits don’t grow in isolation.
They’re shaped by your environment—both the world around you and the world within.
When we think of health only through the lens of “doing more” or “trying harder,” we often miss what’s really going on underneath.
That’s where Deep Health comes in. It’s not a diet plan or a workout routine. It’s a way of seeing the whole picture of your life.
What Is Deep Health?
Deep Health is a framework that invites you to look at wellness from a wide-angle view—zooming out from just nutrition and exercise.
The Deep Health model, originally developed by Precision Nutrition, highlights six interconnected key areas of wellbeing. Together, these areas shape not only your physical health but also your mindset, energy, resilience, and your ability to make lasting changes.
These six areas don’t exist separately. They overlap, influence, and interact with one another every single day.
The Six Areas of Deep Health
Here’s a gentle look at each area, along with simple examples of how they show up in daily life:
1. Physical Health
This includes your body’s basic needs— sleep, movement, nutrition, hydration, and physical recovery. Example: Struggling with focus or motivation? It could be linked to poor sleep or inconsistent eating patterns.
2. Mental Health
This refers to your ability to think clearly, learn, and solve problems. It’s also about how you manage thoughts and your overall mindset. Example: Constant stress or information overload can make even simple decisions feel exhausting.
3. Emotional Health
Your ability to experience, express, and regulate emotions. It includes resilience and coping skills. Example: When you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, emotional eating or avoiding healthy habits can feel like the only option.
4. Social Health
This relates to your connections with others— friendships, family, and community. Support, belonging, and healthy communication fall here. Example: If your social circle is focused on unhealthy habits, it’s harder to make changes alone.
5. Environmental Health
Your physical surroundings and living spaces, including access to safe, supportive, and nourishing environments. Example: A cluttered or stressful home environment can impact your energy, mood, and ability to stay consistent with healthy routines.
6. Existential Health
This is about purpose, meaning, and the “why” behind your actions. It’s also connected to spiritual practices or core values. Example: When your daily habits feel disconnected from your deeper purpose, motivation tends to fade.
Why This Matters for Behavior Change
Deep Health shows us that lasting change isn’t just about fixing behaviors on the surface. It’s about tending to the roots— your whole environment.
This is why self-compassion matters so much.
If you’ve been struggling with consistency or feeling like you “just can’t stick to it,” it’s not because you’re lacking discipline. It’s likely that one or more areas of your Deep Health ecosystem need attention.
The most powerful thing you can do isn’t to force yourself into more discipline—it’s to gently listen.
Ask yourself:
Where is my body asking for care right now?
What area of my life feels out of balance?
A Small Step to Get Started
If this feels like a lot, that’s okay.
The beauty of Deep Health is that it isn’t about perfection— it’s about connection. Often, supporting even one area can help others start to heal naturally.
If you’re ready to explore this more deeply and reconnect with your body and habits, you can start here:
This simple 5-day experience is designed to help you reset your habits gently, starting with your body and expanding outward— without overwhelm or pressure.
Final Thoughts
Deep Health has been one of the most compassionate, eye-opening frameworks I’ve ever worked with— for myself and those I support.
It reminds us that health isn’t a finish line. It’s a daily relationship with ourselves, our environment, and our purpose.
Your body is your first environment. And when you care for it— not just physically, but fully— you create a foundation for every other area of life to flourish.
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