It’s my Life(style change)!

Making Lifestyle changes that last

Every other day we feel all pumped up and motivated to eat better, exercise more, drink less caffeine or many such positive changes you have been telling yourself you want to make. Sometimes this can be very challenging, especially when you want to achieve all of this at once.

Lifestyle changes are a process that take time and require support. I have realized that to achieve long lasting sustainable results one has to set small goals taking one step at a time. Here are a few tips to help you make lasting positive lifestyle and behavior change.

1. Make a plan that will stick – Be very specific when making your plan . Want to incorporate more exercise into your routine? Detail the time of the days when you can run/walk/hit the gym and the duration of the exercise. Write it down in your journal and ask yourself if you are confident that these activities and goals are realistic .Post it on the walls where you are most likely to see it often.

2.Start Small – Again be realistic and start small. After you have identified realistic short term or long term goals into smaller steps. Like longer goal of losing 10kg in 6 month or a weekly goal if you want to eat healthier by replacing desserts with healthier options like fruit/yogurt.

3.Change one behavior at a time- Many people run into problems when they try to change too much too fast. To improve your success focus on one goal at a time. It takes years to develop unhealthy behavior so it will take some time to develop healthy behavior.

4.Involve a partner/buddy- It could be anyone -family , friend, co-worker ,someone else on your health journey will keep you accountable .If you have someone to go to gym with or play your favorite sport with, just having someone to share your success and struggles will make your journey enjoyable.

5.Ask for support- Accepting help from people around you who care for you and listen will strengthen your resilience and commitment.

Making any changes to lifestyle that you want takes time and commitment, but you can do it .Do not be harsh to yourself ,be kind and practice self-love and most importantly don’t give up. Minor missteps on your wellness journey are normal and okay. Recover and get back to track.

Service with a smile 🙂

Swati.