Another year is coming to an end. It’s that time again where we all want to lose weight, exercise more and just feel more healthy
Whatever your health goals are, it’s important to stay motivated. Without motivation, you are more likely to fall short of achieving those goals.
Not sure how to stay motivate? Here are seven tips to help you out.
1. Start by asking “Why”
We all have specific goals that we want to achieve when it comes to health. It may be to go to the gym more, take a yoga class or lose 10 pounds. The real question to ask yourself is “why am I doing this?”. You really want to dig deep and find this answer. Figure out why you want to change your lifestyle for the better and what this will mean for you and those around you.
Once you have the “why”, write it down and display it prominently. This will help to keep you on track and motivated. This is especially important when we run into obstacles that can derail our progress.
2. Set smart, simple goals
So many people drop off from their health goals because they set the bar way too high. Keeping your goals at a more attainable level will lead to long-term success.
Set small goals at first. This will allow you to accomplish them sooner. As a result, it will be easier to measure progress and see that you are improving. In turn, you will be more likely to stay motivated. Once you achieve smaller goals and see the results, you will be able to set more, larger goals.
3. Accountability
Accountability goes a long way when it comes to staying motivated. It is easier to stick to your goals and lifestyle changes if you have to report to someone. This could mean a personal trainer, nutritionist or even a physical therapist who specializes in fitness and nutrition.
Finding a friend, family member or spouse to participate with you is another way to stay on track. Encouraging and supporting each other makes success that much easier to attain.
Using technology to help you out is another option. There are several exercise, virtual trainer and food tracker apps out there that will help track your progress. Google which ones are the best and get started!
4. Mindset and Mindfulness
Mindset plays a critical role in success and staying focused. It is important to be mindful of the way you eat, sleep, exercise and live life. The result of positive mindset and mindfulness is greater happiness, more resistance to temptation and higher level of presence in daily life.
As an example, try to be more mindful about whether you are actually hungry. Achieving this can prevent overeating and encourage better food choices.
5. Prepare for obstacles
We are very busy people. Be prepared to for obstacles that life throws at you. Try to identify any potential obstacles that could prevent you from accomplishing your goals. For example, family obligations such as taking your kids to sports practice. Another may be work commitments and deadlines that have to be met. Whatever the obstacle, it is important to identify it early. Consequently, you’ll be able to create a plan of action and be ready to stay on track when that obstacle arrives.
A great example is not feeling like preparing food after a long workday. We’ve all been there! This can easily be planned for by preparing food at the beginning of the week that can be eaten later. Another solution is to prepare meals that can be frozen. On those long days, you can just defrost and eat.
It can be a lot of work on the front end to plan, but the result will be a greater satisfaction for staying on schedule to achieve your health goals.
6. Focus on Healthy Choices But Don’t Deprive Yourself Completely
It’s easy to get caught up in making big changes to your lifestyle. People tend to dive right in and try to exercise everyday no matter how they feel, or completely give up foods they enjoy.
Unfortunately, this can result in abandoning your health lifestyle goals completely. If you are physically and mentally exhausted, take a break from exercise for that day. Don’t try to force it. The result will be a workout that is unfulfilling and otherwise unproductive. Listen to your body and take a rest day when needed. Keep in mind, though, that this can be a slippery slope and lead to fall-off if you do this more than one day in a row.
The same goes for healthy eating. It’s okay to have a day during the week where you have an indulgence. In fact, some people give themselves a “reward” for all the hard work they put in with their diet and exercise during the week. Just don’t go overboard. As with taking a day of rest, having a “cheat” snack or meal is okay as long as it doesn’t extend past that one for the week.
Once you understand this, you’ll be able to stay focused and motivated to achieve your goals.
7. Make it Fun
Creating a healthy lifestyle should be a serious commitment but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Enjoying what you are doing is just as important to success as anything else.
Activities such as cooking healthy meals with your family or taking a yoga class with a friend can provide fun and motivation to stick with your program.
Try These Strategies
When it comes to staying motivated, there are several strategies to try. These are just seven that may be helpful to keep you on your health track. However, there are plenty of other ways to stay motivated. So, try one or all of these approaches and see what works best for you!
The important thing is to stick to your goals, stay positive and enjoy your journey!
If you need more tips and strategies sign up for a free phone consult to discuss what plan is best for you