Sustaining healthy lifestyles is your desired goal for 2018. Have you still maintained your plan for a healthier you? At the start of each New Year, it is common to aspire to do better in life. Losing weight, eating better and being organized are examples of planned goals. So, what gets in your way of sustaining health goals? If you have a lot going on, with many moving parts, there may be no mental energy to dedicate to behavioral change. It is easier to just fall back into old habits. What follows are the unspoken obstacles to acknowledge on the journey to a healthier you.
First- Setting realistic goals
You have been inspired to lose ten pounds in 30 days by using a weight loss program and a gym membership. It’s easy – just put your mind and credit card to good use. Sign up and weight loss is guaranteed. So off to the grocery store, you go to purchase your researched list of healthy foods. Great! You’re off to a good start, and everything is going as planned. Unexpectedly, stress occurs and in response you overeat or binge on your favorite comfort food. Changes in your schedule limit your ability to visit the gym. Both time and energy management plays a crucial role in your lifestyle change equation.
Second – Energy Management
If you have a lot going on in your life, there is no mental energy to dedicate to sustaining new behaviors. The thought of losing weight and going to a gym is great, however, being excited by the thought of being healthy allows you to minimize or ignore your reality. The task will require more travel, new demands on your kid’s school agenda, more service responsibilities, and other unscheduled events which rob your time and mental energy. Are there any solutions? Examine your life plans closely. Identify a goal you can easily complete, and build on it. Having a goal is great, but make sure you treat it as a firm appointment. Can you give the activity a specific time in your day?
Third – Unscheduled time
Plan to get healthier? Make an official timed appointment to achieve the goal. Otherwise, the thought can remain in your mind to torment you with negative self-talk. Start small! If you hate exercise, try to incorporate brief intervals with some activity in your day. Park your car at the furthest spot in the parking lot, take the stairs, and find yourself an exercise buddy. Develop a mindset of moving the body for 15 minutes, and build on the concept. At the start, many find it difficult to allocate an hour for exercise. So maybe just start with a brief burst. Goal achievement needs a firm time commitment. Otherwise, the thought can remain in your mind to torment you with negative self-talk.
The brain is powerful. You can easily convince yourself you are walking a lot. Get yourself a pedometer and make sure you are really walking 10,000 steps. The pedometer will document your progress. If you hate working out in a gym, consider an alternative. Health club owners know you are likely to drop out after a month or two, and they will still have your one full year’s monthly membership dues. Find something you enjoy. Community colleges, local park, and recreation programs often offer time-limited exercise and health programs to explore. Find one you like and build on it.
Fourth- Many big steps
Start small when making major changes to your diet. If you hate water, why start drinking eight cups a day immediately? Instead, gradually incorporate water intake into your diet. You can get creative with water-based food such as soups and fruits. Reformed water-haters use creative ideas to successfully increase their intake. You can also be creative with your water consumption by adding cut-up fruit, use colorful water bottles as visual reminders, change plastic bottles to glass, activating alarms with water sound using an app on your phone. Thinking outside the box can work to achieve your goal.
A healthy you in 2018? Bottom line – make sure there is enough mental energy and time to complete the goal. Slow the pace to maintain concentration and persistence to sustain your goal for a lifetime of healthy living. Everything worthwhile takes time and energy to complete.