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You’re either considering, or you’ve already started upon, a lifestyle change journey. Well done! Making a start is the first and hardest step. Because deciding upon a lifestyle change journey can be a daunting task, we’ve written this article to guide you through what to expect. From making your habits sustainable, to understanding the importance of your network, you’ll have a better understanding of how to make your changes, and their benefits, last a lifetime. The key factors which are (mostly!) under your control are Activity, Hydration, Stress, Sleep, Nutrition, and Drinking&Smoking. Let’s get started on making your plan realistic, and sustainable.
Why Embark upon a Lifestyle Change Journey?
There are many reasons that we choose to make positive changes to our lifestyles. The most common are health-related reasons, and that’s what we’re experts on. Maybe you’ve really analysed your current lifestyle, or maybe you can just feel that something has to change. Either way, properly analysing your current lifestyle habits, and their impact on your wellbeing, is the place to begin your lifestyle change journey.
Our key pillars for a healthier lifestyle are Activity, Hydration, Stress, Sleep, Nutrition, and Drinking&Smoking. These are in no particular order, because not all of them will be relevant to you personally. Really think about each one, and decide if it’s a factor which you should include in your personal lifestyle change journey.
Ask yourself these key questions. Do you exercise at all, or enough? Are you drinking 1.5-2 litres of water a day? How is stress impacting your life? Are you getting at least 7 (ideally 8) hours of sleep per night? Do you regularly eat fruit and vegetables, and do you prepare your meals yourself from fresh ingredients? Are you a smoker? Do you drink more than 4 units of alcohol more than 3x per week? (LINK MOST FACTORS).
Ensure your Action Plan is Realistic – Decide on the Big Two!
Some of us are “built different” with our willpower levels, and can tackle total lifestyle changes all at once. The chances are high that if you try to tackle every single one of your lifestyle factors in one go, you’ll eventually lose willpower and may revert back to your previous lifestyle choices. Prioritising your goals to make them realistic is absolutely key to success. Our suggestion would be to try to tackle the two areas where you feel like you can have the most impact. This is because firstly, two areas is a manageable task, and secondly, you’ll feel the benefits faster. Furthermore, by tackling the areas where you feel you can make the most improvement, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment. You’ll also notice the benefits, which will motivate you to keep going. Be honest with yourself, and decide on the “big two” to get started on your lifestyle change journey!
Ask for Help on your Lifestyle Change Journey
You will definitely come across roadblocks in the way of your lifestyle change journey. There are factors outside of your control, and the effect of those factors can be turning back to old habits which did not serve you. Having a friend, colleague, or professional guide alongside you will make all the difference when the hard times hit. Studies have shown that writing your goals down, and sharing them with someone else, can make a big difference to your adherence. And if you can stick to the plan, you will consequently succeed.
Talk to a friend, and let them know of your plan. In addition, they’ll support you and encourage you on your lifestyle change journey. We spend a lot of our time with our colleagues at work, so sharing a goal with them might be a good idea. They can help to keep you accountable during working hours. They may even decide to improve their own lifestyle alongside yours, and now you have a team! Professionals can also make a big difference – we’d strongly recommend hiring a good online personal trainer. We can help with goal setting, and know all about accountability. If you want to really improve your lifestyle, a personal trainer is a great consideration.
Reflect on your Progress; Consider Adjustments.
A journey is exactly that – something which changes as you move forwards. Once you feel in control of your Big Two, for example, it’s time to add a third or fourth focus area! Go back and ask yourself the same questions we posed earlier. You may also notice that other factors of your lifestyle have improved unintentionally. Naturally, when we start to make better choices in a few areas, this mindset subconsciously applies to other areas too. For example, if you decided to reduce your alcohol intake, you may notice that your hydration has improved as you’re drinking more water instead. If you decided to increase your activity levels, you may have also increased your hours of sleep. Again, be honest with yourself in your lifestyle change journey. What’s your next priority? Also, how can you make it sustainable?
Celebrate your Successes! Your Mindset in your Lifestyle Change Journey is Powerful
Reflect on how you are doing, and celebrate your successes. You may feel as though you’ve only made some minor changes – but that’s so much more than you have done before. Every step forwards, counts as a step forwards. A positive mindset is vital in your lifestyle change journey. Recognise the positive effects you’re having on your wellbeing. Living your ideal healthy lifestyle is a continuous journey, and motivation is important.
By celebrating your successes, you’ll embrace a positive outlook on what you’ve chosen to do. You’ll feel inspired to tackle the next improvement. You’ll feel accomplished with what you decided to do. Remember, nobody can force lifestyle changed upon you – you’ve made the choice, and you will reap the rewards. Speak to friends, family, colleagues or professionals to share your success. Remember to always be realistic, and start planning to improve your life on your lifestyle change journey.
