We often hear that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to improve physical and mental health. This sounds like a good thing, but it can be really hard to maintain any kind of habit in the first place. There are many things we can do about this, both short-term (e.g., changing our location) or long-term, if we want to make these changes permanent. Today I’m going to talk about some ideas for developing new habits for improving your health.
How To Make Changes Permanent
1. Give up something that isn’t making you happy.
If you take the time to stop and think about how much you enjoy smoking, drinking alcohol, skimping on sleep, eating too fast, watching TV, spending too much time with people who don’t look like themselves, etc., then you may understand why it makes you unhappy. You may need to put an end to these negative things in order to feel better physically and mentally. Think about what you really enjoy doing and find out what it is (maybe it’s singing karaoke, playing frisbee tennis, listening to music, taking a walk by yourself). Once you’ve done this, give up these activities so that they no longer bring you pleasure or happiness. If you still feel unmotivated after giving up these things completely, try another activity. Try painting and gardening instead. Do anything else that brings you happiness and satisfaction. Remember, you’re always free to choose what you want to do!
2. Set goals for yourself.
I’m sure there are days when you just want to curl up with your favorite shows and watch videos until bedtime. But remember, you have goals that are not only important for getting through the day and staying healthy, but also for helping keep you motivated. What you need to know is that setting goals, even small ones, can help you get closer to reaching those big dreams. For example, maybe your goal is to go every Tuesday to sit downtown at Café Royal, where all day? That doesn’t seem like very many calories to burn (except perhaps one drink!), but the potential benefits will really add up. Similarly, maybe you’re thinking about being able to hold down a job that pays enough money to support four meals a day for six months straight? It seems silly, but I bet you could easily increase your income by working part-time at Cafe Royal!
3. Create systems.
We humans can do pretty incredible things when we set aside all distractions and focus ourselves on some serious task. The same thing goes for creating structures or routines to stay on track for what you want to accomplish, whatever that might be. Write down an outline or list of goals for each day and commit to completing them. Then write down specific actions you need to do to achieve those goals. For instance, do you need to schedule time for exercise three times a week? Perhaps you need to shower before work each day to get in shape. Whatever system you create, stick to the routine and don’t deviate from it!
4. Get rid of bad habits.
For most people, keeping a healthy diet can take away a lot of pain for them and for their families, especially without having to pay for groceries. However, sometimes dieting simply isn’t as easy as it feels. Eating at home when you aren’t hungry is a great way to cut down on unhealthy foods at the grocery store or restaurant while still enjoying food. When you decide to eat out more often than you usually would, you can reduce your overall calorie intake without putting back effort into your efforts to lose weight. Not only will it be easier to maintain a healthy diet, but it will also be less stressful to eat healthier. Also, remember that eating out regularly will keep you fit, but it won’t eliminate the temptation to overeat on other foods. So make smart choices and make the sacrifices you need to.
5. Start looking inward.
Sometimes it’s really difficult to see your own behavior and actions critically. Maybe you’re reading an article about the effects of poor hygiene, and think, “Hey…look at my body. All the dirt around here. Look at the amount of bacteria I was already carrying. Damn…I am gonna die now.” Now when someone else sees these things, it’s hard to take everything personally. However, when you try to avoid certain situations, you may learn how helpful proper hygiene can actually be for yourself. Don’t beat yourself up over something that wasn’t intentional, but rather the result of circumstances outside of your control. Instead, accept that there’s nothing to be ashamed of, and realize that most of us can use small amounts of time to change things up a bit. With each little moment of improvement, you’ll become a better person, and you’ll begin to appreciate the importance of living a healthy lifestyle!
6. Find ways to practice gratitude.
In fact, practicing gratitude is such an incredibly effective way to improve overall health. Every day, we are constantly bombarded with information and ads that encourage people to buy this or that item or service. By focusing on appreciating the positive aspects of life, you can make every day a healthier one. For instance, take five minutes to count how many things you are thankful for. Or maybe try saying thank you to someone for the thoughtfulness of their response to your question. While you are grateful for what you have, don’t forget about what you don’t have. Because when you’re grateful, you are less likely to worry about things you don’t have. And since you are so well off, you have a greater chance of using those blessings to help others.
7. Maintain daily commitments.
The secret to committing to doing something is knowing exactly what needs to happen and feeling like you can do whatever you must to accomplish it. Of course, you still have to make sacrifices in order to sustainably maintain the habit, but you can be much happier with the results if you continue with it. Here are a few examples of good habits you can develop to help keep your commitment alive. One of the easiest ways to maintain a positive attitude is to start small and build up to bigger goals. For instance, if you want to be more active throughout the day, take baby steps toward gradually increasing your physical activity throughout the day. Just 20 minutes per day can help you move around a bit better and lead to improved overall health. Another type of healthy habit is scheduling time to meditate. Many people find their mind racing when things don’t turn out right. By creating a meditation time every day, you’ll give your mind a break from constant stress and you can concentrate on things that matter. Lastly, writing an affirmation every morning and evening is a truly powerful activity. After a busy day filled with chores, your brain wants to relax, which means you’ll often find a fresh stream of creative energy flowing through you!
8. Use resources.
If you can find a resource that works for you, then you should definitely incorporate it into your routine. In today’s hyperconnected world, anything is possible. From Facebook updates to texts to emails, we carry on conversations with people all day long. Sometimes we can’t distinguish between real, friendly voices and strangers. Luckily, computers have helped to filter out a large number of annoying and unnecessary communications. No more messages and texts being sent from one person every two minutes — no more endless re-writes to a page in another language! We have instant communication options available to us and it is really helpful to have a tool like this at our fingertips!
9. Plan ahead.
When was the last time you took some of the time to plan out the logistics of a trip or a major event you were planning? It could be anything from traveling in a car to visiting a relative a few days apart to attending a wedding. Planning ahead is essential for avoiding disappointment — it gives you the opportunity to determine your priorities and figure out the details of the task before meeting a deadline or breaking an exciting family tradition. Having some sort of strategy in place will keep you motivated and on top of things. It will also prevent unwanted surprises, such as a surprise party or birthday celebration when you didn’t plan for it.
10. Have fun.
I’m sure I get asked this question a lot – “how do you get through the tough days?” My answer is simple – make the most of it. You don’t need to have a full hour to binge-watch season 2 of Gossip Girl to feel refreshed and energized. Even ten minutes a day can help. Taking a little downtime will rejuvenate you and help you bounce back after facing a hectic day. As long as you get back to regular activities, you should be okay. Go on walks or take lunch breaks whenever you want. Keep your weekends relaxing and low-key because rest is needed to renew our bodies and minds. The key is to allow yourself to be the center of attention and enjoy things the way that you normally would!
