A healthy lifestyle has its inevitable ebbs and flows. You can find innumerous books and articles about how to get back in the flow during the ebbs. Beyond that, there are even psychological studies attempting to explain lapses in healthy lifestyle practices. There is no lack of information for someone looking for self-help ideas to get back on track. What all those sources lack, however, is the unique (and some say questionable) perspective of Pointe Fitness. Here are some thoughts to help switch the light bulb on in your head.
No, you are not perfect: Personalities vary but one thing is for sure, perfection is impossible. You may be the most organized, detail oriented person you know, but you are still susceptible to setbacks. Perfectionist personalities, in particular, will benefit from this realization. On the flip side, accepting this may be a little easier for those more laid back. If you fall into the latter category, be conscious of becoming too lax in your approach to fitness and health. Success is found in making health a sustainable lifestyle. Success is not a magical weight loss number to reach, for example, only to experience a complete relapse. No matter your personality, taking an approach that focuses on success for a lifetime and how to get there versus perfection is best.
Limit ebb duration: Once you accept your imperfection, next comes how to limit the setbacks. One way to do that is to have planned ebbs. It is OK to purposely include some less than healthy practices in life. Those should be exceptions, though. Examples include vacations and all the food and lack of physical activity that comes with a typical vacation. Another common practice are cheat days. For some, this is like a health holiday and is something to look forward to as a short, temporary break from the norm. Including planned, short lived ebbs may be beneficial to you. Unplanned ebbs, on the other hand, can sneak up on you. Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize them as you get preoccupied with other priorities on life’s list. Honing your skills to recognize and limit the duration of the unplanned ebbs is vital to success.
One day at a time: Cliché?.....yes. A popular sitcom from this author’s childhood?.....yes. Truth?.....absolutely. Every day is an increment of success or failure in practicing good health. This may be a great way for some to approach the challenge. Breaking up success to health into small, daily increments is less formidable. Evaluate your day and learn from it. A successful day proves you are capable. Repeating that success is the goal. A day that you don’t succeed can be put in the past and motivate you to do better moving forward.
Find your flow: Not everyone has the same fitness plan/goals and dietary needs. With fitness, find what keeps you flowing forward. There are many options when it comes to physical activity. There is no one, right answer. However, there may be one, best answer for you. A common industry recommendation is to “switch things up”. Doing different routines and cross training is something that may work well for one, but not so much for another. Fitness enthusiasts might break down how to make the most of their workouts and seek ways to switch it up. Reality is not everyone is a fitness enthusiast. If walking for 30 minutes a day combined with a successful dietary day is enjoyable and, more importantly, sustainable…..do that! Fitness goals vary and there is no doubt that doing nothing gets you nowhere.
Mood matters most: All of these subtopics mean little without the right mindset. Emotional mood dictates action. Doing something that is good for you requires good vibes on the inside. Getting back to healthy habits is an easy concept, but without positive emotions, the task is nearly impossible. Inevitable ebbs are part of the process. Keep your positive vibes present to make it easier to get back in the flow.
