It’s not easy for us to admit that we’ve been winging it health-wise. We get busy, lazy, and easily distracted and ignore the fact that we need to make a desperate change for the better. We become submissive to our willpower, succumb to temptations, and end up eating what we shouldn’t. We make unremarkable excuses, then delve into laziness, simply because we have no plan of action to get us started or better yet, a plan to keep us going! Have you ever tried to start a self-care regimen but then ended it quickly because you let daily stresses and bad habits take over? I know how it is to think “I will get started on taking care of myself tomorrow… or next week… because right now I am going to eat this donut!” As a procrastinator myself, I know that what actually happens is that next week comes around and I have not even begun to get started, simply because getting fast food on the run and being a couch potato is much easier. And it’s all because of not having a mindset to begin a better way of existing. For many people, taking care of themselves is time consuming. It is way too easy to eat unhealthily. Taking vitamins is just one more thing to do and exercising is hard to fit into our busy lives. Sound familiar? Trust me, I’ve been there, I am there, and I get it! So, If you are like one of the many people stuck in a bad cycle of abusing your health, what do you do? How do you break that cycle and where do you begin to make it better? I want to help you to have a place to start, with a plan that you can stick with and to be able to fall back on if or when the bad habits set back in. By reflecting on the reason ‘why’ you want to take on a self care regimen and what your plan of action will be, you will have a motivational head start! A healthier way of living is an ongoing need for every one of us. It is simply feeling better health-wise and being mindful of how you treat yourself! It is about having more energy, or possibly conquering depression or anxiety and living a higher quality of life for yourself and for those who love you. I’m not going to bore you with all of the technical and physical reasons of why you should eat better, exercise, and drink 8 glasses of water a day, so on and so forth, because you already know that! I would, however, like to motivate you to start your new self-care habits by helping you to make a plan ahead of time. That way, you can be on your way to starting a life-long habit of extreme self-care! Genuinely think about and answer the questions… ‘Why’ do I want this change to take place? ‘Why’ am I doing this? Write down your answers and refer back to them when you have the need to. We all have different reasons to get a healthier outlook on life. You may also have one particular reason or you may have a whole list. Regardless make these necessary decisions a part of your plan.
Five Decisions To Make When Starting Your Journey To A Healthier You
Decide what you need to have on hand to help you in this process, then gather what you need. Decide who you want to support you during this transitional change. Ask for support from your family or friend and let them know you have a change in the process. Plus tell them not to judge or criticize you! Decide if you would rather keep this journey to yourself and do it on your own. Decide where you want to see yourself in a few weeks or months from now…(i.e. balanced rested, thinner, stronger.) Decide the reasons why you want to do this. (i.e. To feel fit like you did in your younger years, healthier, more energized, able to keep up with the demands put upon you. Perhaps you simply want to turn back a few years so you can feel younger and more vibrant.)
Remember, it is not always about weight! However, that is possibly a good part of it, along with the need to exercise, stretch, and to find time to relax. Whatever your reasoning, make your plans, get excited, then get started right away without procrastinating! Consult with your physician if you deem necessary. Most importantly, let your reason “Why’ drive you through! Featured photo credit: Getty Images via weebly.com
