Just knowing certain behaviors are good for us doesn’t always mean it is so easy to adopt them. You would think that wouldn’t be the case, but we have all sorts of weird stuff going on below the surface that messes with us. And, don’t forget about simply being lazy. We get very deeply entrenched in our bad habits, and breaking them can seem impossible, but nothing could be further from the truth. If you are struggling in your efforts to be a healthier person, here are a few tips to help get you on the right track:
Take the Focus off Physical Appearance and Just Focus on Being Healthier
For many of us, our desire to be healthier stems from a desire to improve our physical appearance—we want to lose weight, tone up and feel more confident about how we look. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, but if we make this our sole aim, it is easy to get off track because it can take awhile to see the results we want. And, then we get discouraged, and stop trying as hard.
But, if you shift the focus to just wanting to be healthier and make better choices, you can feel that sense of accomplishment much sooner, because adopting the good habits is the ultimate goal, and each time you make a healthy decision, you will feel good, and want to keep doing things that build on that feeling.
Remember to See Past the Immediate Moment
You have decided you want to be a healthier person for the long-term, not just for a few weeks or a few months. If you had the iron will to change overnight, you would probably already be engaging in all the healthy habits you hope to cultivate. If you go into this goal remembering you are in this for the long-haul, you will be much more forgiving of yourself when you slip up. You won’t feel the need to go crazy and make drastic changes to your lifestyle. You will know it’s okay to eat ice cream sometimes, or still go out to eat at your favorite Italian restaurant.
Be forgiving of yourself when you slip up—it’s inevitable. It doesn’t mean you are weak or incapable of change. Just get back on the horse, and keep going.
Experiment with Different Forms of Exercise
There are lots of different ways to get in better shape physically. Some people like joining a gym, while others enjoy a nice brisk walk around the neighborhood after dinner. One of the most important elements of maintaining a regular exercise routine is finding something you enjoy doing. If one of your goals was increasing confidence or improving your self-discipline, it might be a good idea to experiment with martial arts. Establishments such as KoSho Karate in Tucson, Arizona, for example, incorporate many different forms into their teachings, allowing for a more expansive experience. If stress reduction was a main goal, you might experiment with yoga.
