We are all guilty of waking up one day and thinking, “I’m going to change my life”, only to then put in very little effort to maintain those changes made. Before we know it, we can end up back at Square 1. Instead, when making changes we need to make sure that we are indeed going to be sticking to the new regime that we have crafted for ourselves. Let’s take a look at some of the promises that you can make to yourself that you might be able to keep.
Make Changes Slowly
While you might want to dive in cold-turkey for some major changes, there are others that you are going to want to take at a much more leisurely pace. If you are able to take things on slowly, there is more of a chance that you will be able to incorporate them into your routine naturally. You can then just make it part of your daily routine without even noticing that much of a change.
Let’s take an easy example here – your commute to work. What sort of distance do you travel, and how do you do so? If you drive a relatively short distance to work, you should think about potentially walking or cycling instead. It is an easy way to get a little exercise in, and can help you clear your head and think through your day before you get to the office.
If you take public transport, why not look for something to occupy your time with? You could choose to listen to a podcast or actually start that book that you have been meaning to read. These could help you grab a little bit of time to yourself before you start work, and it could really help you think about your day in slightly different ways.
Focus on Your Wellbeing
Some people think that they should switch to a new diet and stick to it regimentally if they want to make changes in their everyday living. However, this can lead to you not giving your body what it needs. Instead, you should think about getting in touch with your body and working out precisely what it needs. Thinking intuitively in this way is always going to be a great move to improving your health and wellbeing overall.
You could also choose to look into some of the many supplements available on the market. Using a CBD oil like those available from Naturally CBD can be a good thing to add to your health routine, along with boosters like Vitamin C and D. Learn to listen to your body, and build yourself a program that is unique to you and what you actually need.
Some of these changes might be more obvious than others. If you have a major intolerance such as gluten or dairy, you are unlikely to miss these symptoms if you eat something that you should avoid. However, you might also have a few subtle intolerances that you need to learn more about to be able to properly master. Educating yourself on these and how they affect you can be a great step towards you taking greater control of your health.
Explore New Hobbies at the Same Time
Rather than frame the change as something that you have to do, why not consider it as a chance to dive into a new hobby. For example, if you spend more time eating out or getting a takeaway than you would like, why not think about learning how to cook? There are so many ways to pick up skills in the kitchen. You could head to a class, follow a tutorial from YouTube, or even learn how to make a dish from a recipe kit.
Want to spend more time outdoors? Look for local walks, hikes, or even take the plunge into the world of wild swimming! These can all be great ways for you to feel a little bit healthier while making changes to your life that you are going to be able to sustain.
Of course, not everything has to affect your physical health. Hobbies are also great for boosting our mental wellbeing. If you want to read more, why not look to see if there is a book group near you that is accepting new members? You could also try pottery, or some other form of crafts! If it makes you feel better doing it, you should try to make a little space for it within your life.
Climb Back on When You Fall Off
There are going to be days when you don’t want to get on your bike, or prepare the meal that you have bought. Some days, you will step into the gym and not be able to lift the weight that you were pulling with ease a few days before. Everyone has days when they feel a little off, and we need to make sure that we accept them as part of the process.
You are going to wobble – you need to accept this. A big part of making changes is accepting that you have had a bad day, then committing to get back on the bandwagon and starting again the next day. Don’t let yourself backslide. You will have no doubt already gone so far in your journey to a healthier and happier lifestyle, and you need to make sure that you are doing everything in your power to stay on track.
While it may seem like you are spinning your wheels and not moving forward at all, you might actually be making more progress than you might think. You need to make sure that you are always going to be taking a step forward and pushing for change. It might be slow, and it will take commitment on your part, but it will be worth it in the long run. Start thinking about some of the changes you would like to make to your lifestyle, and put them into practice now!
