With the new year well and truly in the swing of things, there is still a lot of deliberation around how people should implement their health and fitness goals of 2018. I have friends that have found the sustainability of a numerous new years goals over the years hard, ranging from diets through to alcohol counselling. This just shows no matter what behaviour you are trying to change, there are individual barriers for everyone.
Between my friends and I we are well versed in ways to increase the likelihood of keeping to your new lifestyle choices. Below are a few helpful ways you can keep on track and become a healthier you.
1. Keep things simple
Generally, when we decide on a goal for the year ahead, we are in a stress-free, reflective state, which allows us to feel that we have the capability to deal with our suggested changes. However, when it comes to implementing our desired changes we are usually back at work, making a lot of decisions daily and in automatic mode for some of them. Therefore, when it comes to choosing your new habits or goals, try to make them with their implementation in mind. A good rule of thumb is to make new habits as simple to implement as possible.
Repeat them
Once you have decided on the goal you want to concentrate on and you’ve made it as simple as humanly possible, try looking at ways you can incorporate it into your day. Repetition is a great way to re-enforce a new behaviour, try integrating it into your daily routine and you’ll have a higher likelihood of that behaviour becoming a habit.
Perform your activity with a friend
No matter how motivated you are in strong times, there will always be times when your willpower will withers and you’ll need someone to help keep you on track. By buddying up with someone from the very start, you can increase the likelihood of performing that behaviour. This is because you have an additional reason to carry it out – fear of guilt. The fear of not wanting to let down your friend, and the fear of feeling guilty. For me personally, having someone rely on me is such a strong motivator in times when I naturally want to give up.
I also find that the company, conversation and laughter of that other person brings so much to the activity. It is a great way to make the activity positive as well as make the time pass a lot quicker. Having another person to walk, run or eat healthily with can also awaken a competitive side to people’s personalities, creating subconscious stretch goals and sees people push themselves further than normal.
Be kind to yourself
It would be silly to think that there won’t be times when you’ll slip up, we’re only human after all. When these times do occur it’s easy to get angry and feel that you’ve let yourself down. However, the problem with this is that an internal dialogue can create a prolonged negative feeling, which if repeated enough can become a person’s outlook.
Having a negative internal voice isn’t motivational, it is self sabotage. It is important to be kind when you make a mistake. Make a note of it, reflective if you feel it’s necessary, and move on. Tomorrow is a new day and there is always room to correct those wrongs when you refocus on the task at hand.
Motivate others
Inspiring others is an extremely fulfilling past time, it allows you to share your knowledge and techniques with others and give them the support and motivation they need. Plus, when you teach someone your goal, it further cements that behaviour making you more likely to do it and become a habit. Now, how great is that? Inspiring others and increasing your likelihood of keeping to your own goal. Quite literally a win win!