Healthy Habits to Start ASAP
Quote cards all over Pinterest and Instagram will tell you time and time again, with anything in life, the hardest part is getting started. It’s corny (v. corny), but it’s true. The central barrier to entry of a healthy lifestyle is not knowing where to start and feeling overwhelmed by all of the information that inundates the internet and our social media.
Here are four habits you can implement TODAY to embark on a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Identify Your Roadblocks
A little self-exploration can go a long way, even though it can be fucking hard to do. For some, this can be as easy as acknowledging a fear that has been a lifelong struggle, writing a list or coming to terms with an unfortunate habit. For others, the process of “identifying” hangups can take much longer. Personally, I worked with a life coach for almost a year to truly understand the obstacles I was facing. Spoiler alert – they were all self-imposed and were the root of different fears or feelings.
The process below helped me figure out what was standing in the way of accomplishing some personal achievements.
- Pinpoint the fears or problems that were responsible for holding me back
- Creating a plan to face said fears or combat said problems
- Writing a SPECIFIC action plan for achievement
By laying all my cards on the table, I had the confidence I needed to begin moving forward. My fears didn’t seem that scary. My problems didn’t seem that big. I knew that I’d be ready and capable of taking down whatever stood in my way.
A quick shout out to my coach, Annie Nogg. Hey, bish! People, if you’re thinking about working with a life coach, or even have entertained the idea, reach out to Annie for a consult. She’s incredible and has a way of digging that isn’t intrusive or uncomfortable. Annie lives in San Francisco, and we did all of our sessions over the phone. I honestly looked forward to our hour together, and they were always one of the best of my day. Heads up, working with Annie is an investment, but one that I would make over and over again. The pay off is invaluable. #baimoney
Eat Real Food
Unless you actually enjoy drinking juice, stop juicing. Stop “detoxing,” and stop consuming bars or foods from boxes and packages. So many products or foods directed towards weight loss has little to no nutritional value. You won’t be full; you’ll miss out on the nutrition your body needs and you’ll waste calories you could be putting towards a balanced diet
Eat lean proteins, green and fibrous veggies, and healthy fats. I’ll go a step further and include hydrating foods to that list as well. It’s so important to stay hydrated, and while we all know it, we all too often fall behind in our water intake. Eat foods such as cucumbers, melons, or strawberries that can contribute to your fluid intake, Use this list to aid in your grocery shopping and spend some time in the kitchen. You may find that you enjoy it!
Reconceptualize Failure
After I started identifying my roadblocks (above) I quickly learned a big part of my apprehension to embark on new goals had to do with others judging me if I failed. How sad, right? Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m alone in that mindset. I realized that I was looking at failure as this large, catastrophic event that would happen to me if I tried something I wasn’t sure I’d be capable of achieving. But failure is a choice. You choose to fail when you decide your goals aren’t worth the work it takes to bring them to fruition. If you’re actively trying, or working towards something, there is no possible way you can fail. Mistakes, setbacks, key learnings. They’re inevitable. But so is your success when you get back up and continue to persevere. Reconceptualize how you view failure, and I guarantee you’ll be inspired to put one foot in front of the other.
Sleep
The only time our bodies fully recover from the stress of life or exercise alike is when we’re sleeping. There’s no way you can fire on all cylinders if you’re always burning out. Why is prioritizing sleep health so important? The benefits of sleep include:
- Protection of mental health, physical health, and quality of life
- Hormonal control over blood glucose sugar levels, which may affect your risk for diabetes
- The balance of the hormones that signifies hunger. Have you ever noticed that when you’re tired you’re more likely to eat mindlessly?
- Supports healthy growth and development and boosts muscle mass and helps repair cells and tissues
- Regulates your immune system to defend your body against foreign or harmful infections
If you’re unsure how to go about your efforts to a healthier lifestyle, the bedroom is a great place to start.
In Conclusion
While there’s a science to getting lean and losing weight, there are small changes you can make RIGHT NOW to bring yourself that much closer to your goals. Don’t overthink. Just do.
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