How to Maintain Healthy Habits

We all know that maintaining healthy habits will be beneficial to us, but sometimes it is just quicker and simpler to take the easy option.

Sticking with healthy habits is hard and we often face setbacks that cause us to give up all together.

We are nearing the end of April and the New Year’s resolutions are long behind us. If you’ve already dropped this year’s plan for a healthier lifestyle, we’ve got some tips for you to stay on track with you goals.

 

5 Tips for Healthy Habits

 

1.Use SMART goals

Are your goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound? It’s easy to say “I’m going to eat healthier” but without being specific, how are you going to do that?

The goal needs to be something you can actually achieve so plan it out and recognise that it needs to fit into your life long-term.

If you want to eat healthier, make a plan of what that looks like for you.

It might be that you want to eat at least 2 fruits or vegetables with every meal, or maybe you want to cut down one salty snack a day.

Whatever the goal, make it really specific for you otherwise it will get lost in the wind!

Find out more about how to write SMART goals.

2. Schedule it in

We are busy people; life has a habit of getting in the way and if things aren’t written down they will often be forgotten.

If you are planning to achieve something, get it into the calendar or on phone reminders so that you actually stick to it. 

If you’re wanting to go to the gym, don’t just pay for the membership and decide you’ll go when you find the time.

Look at your schedule and plan it in, find the gaps and keep a consistent routine that leaves room for your new healthy habits.

 

3.Find a Friend 

Things are always easier when you’ve got someone to motivate and challenge you.

Knowing that someone else is doing that same thing as you can alleviate feelings of isolation and help you to stick to your plan. 

If you’ve decided you want to quit smoking or drinking, see if any of your friends will join with you or get out of your comfort zone and mingle with a support group.

There may be someone else in the same boat as you who would like to have a companion to turn to.

 

4.Reward Yourself

Sometimes the results from keeping healthy habits can be a reward alone, other times we may need something a little extra.

If you find that you need some motivation, see if you can set yourself a prize for the end of the week or month when you’ve achieved your goals. 

If you’ve started a fitness class and haven’t missed a session for the entire month, you could reward yourself with a new piece of gym wear or a pair of new shoes.

Reward yourself until the healthy habit becomes part of your lifestyle.

 

5.Check in 

Check in with yourself, building new habits can be difficult and might cause some additional unneeded stress.

If things aren’t working, re-assess your goals and decide on a new plan. 

Sometimes, you might need to take a step backwards to go forwards and you don’t have to feel guilty about that.

We are not perfect, and it is a challenge to stick to something when it doesn’t feel natural for you. 

If the goal is important to you, you will be able to modify your plans to make it suit your lifestyle and if on some weeks it doesn’t work out, you can always pick it back up again. 

 

If you find that you’d like some help with goal setting or personal coaching, contact us to find out more about the support we offer at Inspire You.