If you're feeling guilty after a summer of indulgences, you are not alone. Being on vacation from work and school often leads to taking a vacation from healthy habits as well. Most people who try to pursue a healthy lifestyle have these stumbling points, but how we handle our perceived "failures" is as important as our moments of success. The trick to long-term health is not consistently following the laundry list of what we should and shouldn't be doing, it's about being able to get back on track quickly when we do something that might not appear in a blog post about "10 healthy things you should start doing today!"
In that spirit, here are a few tips for using the fall energy to get yourself back where you want to be.
1. Set a specific date for change. "Soon" is a time that rarely comes when it comes to things we might not want to do, but "next Tuesday morning" is a definite time. This also will give you a chance to look at the obstacles to your goals and start fixing them in advance (eg. clean the fridge, meal plan, shop).
2. Make a specific list of goals. "Be more healthy" is a great goal, but makes it very hard for you to decide on a day to day basis whether you've achieved your aim. Decide what your priorities are for your health and write out the specific way that you are going to address those priorities. Instead of "get in shape", write, "I will go to the gym 3 days a week and work out for 30 minutes", or get even more specific and find a personal trainer or good online plan that will give you an exact idea about what you're going to do.
3. Keep the list short. Try 3 specific goals to start, then as those become habit you can start delving into your next goals. Too many goals at once makes it easier to fail and give up as you become discouraged.
4. Focus on how good you feel with the changes you've made, not the moments when you "failed". If you're doing well 95% of the time, you deserve to feel good about what you're doing for yourself, not ruminating on that one time you gave in. If you start thinking of yourself as a failure, it will make it more difficult to believe that your can succeed.
If you're looking to make changes this fall and need some extra guidance, considering seeing a naturopathic doctor. I can help you identify your priorities to improve your specific health concerns and work to navigate your obstacles to achieving those goals.
In that spirit, here are a few tips for using the fall energy to get yourself back where you want to be.
1. Set a specific date for change. "Soon" is a time that rarely comes when it comes to things we might not want to do, but "next Tuesday morning" is a definite time. This also will give you a chance to look at the obstacles to your goals and start fixing them in advance (eg. clean the fridge, meal plan, shop).
2. Make a specific list of goals. "Be more healthy" is a great goal, but makes it very hard for you to decide on a day to day basis whether you've achieved your aim. Decide what your priorities are for your health and write out the specific way that you are going to address those priorities. Instead of "get in shape", write, "I will go to the gym 3 days a week and work out for 30 minutes", or get even more specific and find a personal trainer or good online plan that will give you an exact idea about what you're going to do.
3. Keep the list short. Try 3 specific goals to start, then as those become habit you can start delving into your next goals. Too many goals at once makes it easier to fail and give up as you become discouraged.
4. Focus on how good you feel with the changes you've made, not the moments when you "failed". If you're doing well 95% of the time, you deserve to feel good about what you're doing for yourself, not ruminating on that one time you gave in. If you start thinking of yourself as a failure, it will make it more difficult to believe that your can succeed.
If you're looking to make changes this fall and need some extra guidance, considering seeing a naturopathic doctor. I can help you identify your priorities to improve your specific health concerns and work to navigate your obstacles to achieving those goals.
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