All in? Maybe start with just your toes.

A lot of people, when they talk about exercise or nutrition, start making unrealistic, or even unattainable, goals. We hear about triathlons, no sugar or no carb diets, working out 7 days a week, having 2 hour workouts. Sounds a little intense doesn’t it? I believe this is a contributing factor to why a healthy lifestyle seems so daunting to so many.

What might be more helpful is to start hearing more about specific, small, and balanced goals because the truth is that there can always be too much or too little of something.

Let’s start to promote a culture that has self-knowledge (knows what is realistic for them based on schedule, energy, etc), one in which individuals are able to make promises to themselves and follow through on them. An example of such a goal could be: "I am going to walk for at least 10 minutes a day, 3 days a week starting Monday, and typically in the afternoons."

It’s time to build habits that lead to lifestyles contributing to people's lives rather than rules that make life more stressful and less enjoyable. Habits like: drinking two water bottles a day- the first one starting at 8am, the second one starting at 2pm, and a timer on the hour to check how much you’ve hydrated. If you do this long enough it can become muscle memory and you no longer need the timer. This is a goal that, unlike popular crash diets & intense workouts, won’t leave you drained and is an easy way to start. Even if it is a bit tiresome the first few times. 

The point is to make little changes and follow through with them. A healthier lifestyle doesn’t begin without intention. Like most things, a healthy lifestyle with fitness and nutrition is hardest at the beginning, so the starting suggestion is to always start at a maintainable and slow pace. Picking one thing at a time to incorporate or adjust in life with the specific days and times to do so. 

At The Well Being, we want you to succeed in your small goals and in your overall vision for your life. Feel free to reach out to us for help along your physical & mental health journey!