New Year, new you! If your goals for 2023 include things like “get healthier,” “get in shape,” or “take better care of myself,” then high five to you!
There is nothing like heading into the New Year with a renewed motivation to improve your overall health and wellness. However, we all know that building these types of healthy habits and sticking to them can be a lot easier said than done. It seems like time and time again we get a few weeks into the New Year and lose our motivation to keep up with those healthy habits we swore we were going to create. How frustrating, right?
This year, keep the frustration and overwhelm at bay by implementing these simple tips that are sure to help you make 2023 your healthiest year yet!
1. Know Your Why
What’s motivating you to get healthy? Are you looking to build your confidence and self-esteem? Has your productivity been faltering, and you realize that working out will sharpen your focus? Are you keen on strengthening your immune system to keep you feeling your best year-round?
There are plenty of benefits that come with building a lifestyle that supports your overall health and wellness, and any combination of them could be your reason for building healthier habits this year. Thoroughly understanding your ‘why’ will give you something to lean on when you discover obstacles in your path. During these harder moments, you will be able to remind yourself of the reason why you set out on this journey and how much it means to you, which will help keep you motivated all the way through.
2. Meet Yourself Where You Are Now
You get to be your own coach on this journey. You get to set your own goals and decide how you are going to get there. While it may be tempting to set lofty goals, keep in mind that oftentimes those goals may be out of reach when compared to where you are starting from. In order to give yourself the best chances of success, it’s important to acknowledge where you are right now and let that inform the goals you set. If exercise hasn’t been a part of your regular routine for quite a while, you probably shouldn’t aim to run a half marathon this summer, right? That goal is likely a little too far out of reach, which can contribute to a sudden loss of motivation.
Meeting yourself where you’re at right now doesn’t mean you won’t be able to become the person you aspire to be, it means you understand your capabilities and understand that it is going to take some time to get there. Set an achievable goal this year, work toward it at your own pace, celebrate your small wins, and let those wins increase your motivation and encourage you to keep moving forward. Because remember, each small step adds up to make a big difference in your overall health and wellness.
3. Cover the Basics
When it comes to keeping ourselves healthy, there are some ‘obvious’ habits in our day-to-day lives that we know have a direct effect on our health, but that we could probably manage a little better. One of the biggest examples of this is sleep. Your body needs it to help you recover from your busy days and be ready for the day ahead. However, many of us don’t give ourselves enough time for a full night's sleep, or we have formed habits that prevent us from getting the best sleep possible. So this year, start by making sure you have the basics covered. Look at your sleep schedule, your morning and evening routines, and how much water you're drinking each day, then find ways to optimize those habits so you have a solid foundation to build off of as you work toward your goals.
4. Use Self-Negotiation to Kick Excuses to the Curb
Everyone struggles with this at one point or another. You had set time to work out, but you feel too tired. You were prepared to blend up a healthy smoothie this morning, but you woke up too late and don’t have time. The human mind can easily come up with a variety of reasons to not do something. Learning to combat these excuses with self-negotiation is a simple tactic that can go a long way when it comes to sticking to the habits and routines you’ve set out to build. These self-negotiations can be as simple as following an excuse with a reminder of how the action will benefit you.
For example, if you had planned to walk after work and your mind says “I’m not in the mood for a walk today,” you can follow that thought with “but, I’ve been sitting all day and a short stroll will re-energize both my body and mind.” This simple act of negotiating with yourself can go a long way in helping you stick to the healthy plans you laid out for yourself.
5. Have Fun
We know that the journey to reaching your health and wellness goals can often feel like a job, but it doesn’t have to! And even if it were a job, you’d be your own boss, so technically you could set the rules anyway. No matter what your goals are, find ways to make getting there as fun as possible. Find a friend to join you in the gym, experiment with new recipes in the kitchen, or join a hiking club or dance class. Finding a way to make the process more enjoyable will help it feel easier as well.
This Year WILL Be Different
No matter what 2023 has in store for you, you have the power to make it your healthiest year yet! You can do it! We believe in you! Now get out there, ring in the new year, and prepare to become the best version of yourself.