People are told on a daily basis how important their health is and that they must maintain it, but the demands of everyday life can make these goals more difficult than you’d expect.
It’s easy to set goals with every intention of following through, but it’s all too easy for reality to set in and create seemingly insurmountable obstacles. If you’ve struggled with making improvements to your health, here are some easy changes you can incorporate.
Start Small
Too many people come up with a drastic plan to improve their lives only to falter when they realize how few hours there are in the day. When you account for the time needed for sleep, work, and basic care tasks, there’s often not much time left at all.
When you finally have a moment to yourself, you may crave rest and mindless entertainment. Shockingly, this isn’t always a bad thing. If all you want to do is relax, it may be because you need it.
If you want to add healthier habits to an already busy lifestyle, be gentle with yourself, start small, and accept that you won’t be perfect. Take a look at your health goals and come up with a list of small changes you can gradually add to your routines.
Sneak in Nutrients
When your body becomes reliant upon things like sugar and caffeine, deciding to overhaul your eating habits can leave you cranky, and without energy, and it can even leave you with headaches and other physical symptoms while you adjust.
This alone can cause people to pick up old habits. In order to create lasting change, try sneaking nutrients into your diet where you can.
Grab a vegan protein bar for breakfast or as a snack. Add a vegetable to a pasta dish, or cut up some fruit that you can pick throughout the week. Making healthy options accessible without pressure is the first step in making them part of your routines.
Try Something New
It’s healthy for your brain and your body to try new things regularly. It also helps keep life from feeling too repetitive or boring. If you stay in the house most nights, consider going to the local library for an event, or trivia night at the local bar.
Try a class for a hobby you’ve always been interested in. Maybe there’s a cooking class that uses ingredients you’re intimidated by, or a walking group you’ve been too shy to approach.
Exercise Differently
Exercising doesn’t have to mean misery. Some people enjoy listening to music or a podcast while they hop on a stationary bike or a treadmill, but it’s okay if that doesn’t work for you. A short walk through your neighborhood counts as exercise, even if you didn’t break a sweat.
If you don’t enjoy your workout routine, there’s a good chance you won’t keep up with it, so what’s the point? The best exercise for you is one you don’t mind doing regularly. Dancing, stretching, it all counts.
You can even ask a friend to join a new exercise class or go on a hike if you’re motivated by accountability.
Try Journaling
If you struggle with making improvements to your health, chances are it’s not your fault. Reaching out to your healthcare professionals for assistance is a good first step, but it’s also a good idea to try writing down your experiences, especially when you hit a wall.
Describe your physical sensations as well as your feelings. Try a stream-of-consciousness writing session. You may be able to pinpoint some of the reasons you’re struggling. Write down your goals and things you want to try, then document your experiences.
Living a healthy lifestyle is a lifelong endeavor, and some seasons of life will have different requirements that look different for everybody. By deciding what healthy looks like to you, you’ll be better prepared to make changes that last.