Staying on Track with Healthy Living
How do you stay motivated to make healthy choices even on busy or stressful days?
@ScorpiaD
Tbh its hard for me to find or stay motivated but once I feel it , I try to think of positive ways to help me keep it
@ScorpiaD
I keep hoping that I'll have a better answer to this myself. 😭I'll be staying tuned into this thread.
Something that has helped for me lately, tbh, is just to make compromises or allow myself to think smaller. For example, if I don't feel like doing a complete workout, I'll take one set of push ups or a walk around the neighborhood. If I don't feel up to cooking a full meal, a smoothie it is. Basically, down with the perfectionism as cliche as it may be to hear.
If my day was more stressful than I anticipated, I decompress for a while and do what I can in the time left. If my day was busier than I thought, I feel good about what I managed to take care of and accomplish, then fit it in if I can or reschedule and follow through if I can't.
It took me a long time to figure out that forcing myself to act when I didn't want to or didn't feel like it, would eventually fail me. So now, I pay a lot of attention to my emotional state and making sure that whatever choice I make is in support of that. Also, bodydoubling, group fitness classes, and being experimental with different approaches have been really helpful for me too.
I think about it like a variation on "starting where you are".
What have you tried?
I found this on a fitness social media site that I visit....it makes sense to me so I am learning to be disciplined in my choices....making healthy things a habit.....
@CyclingThroughLife
THIS! 👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼!
@CyclingThroughLife
so true
Mine unironically happened to be watching Arcane season 2, hyper fixating on it, having a mental breakdown because I related to Vi too much, dyed my hair dark red and then I decided that day to go to the gym because
1. VI is hot and I wanna look like her.
2. My hyper fixation lasted long enough for me to get over the need to be motivated to go to the gym, that now I need to go to the gym to be able to clear my head and burn off some steam.
I think the trick is you have to find a way to find enjoyment in staying healthy. Turn cooking into a hobby, go to the gym with a friend (it's way more fun trust me), plan your workouts to be inspired by another interest of yours, etc. Once you enjoy it, you'll be able to develop consistency.
@ScorpiaD I try to make time for myself for activities like meditation or going for a walk in nature, even if it's just for a few minutes
@ScorpiaD
Great question! I believe that all is about just building habits and creating routine rather than following motivation. Only consistency can overcome this. Personally, I also find it helpful to divide bigger task into the small ones or give yourself the timeline (one hour- focus mode, one hour break) and gradually increasing the focus mode time.
@InkaPsych
"Personally, I also find it helpful to divide bigger task into the small ones or give yourself the timeline (one hour- focus mode, one hour break) and gradually increasing the focus mode time."
This is very important in all aspects of life.....using the S.M.A.R.T. goals acronym has helped me greatly with a lot of things in life........
@ScorpiaD
It can be super tricky, especially in our modern-day lives, to prioritize health. The easiest way I try to stay motivated is to make changes that are not as drastic as, say, walking 10,000 steps on your first day of some "75 Day Hard" challenge. Show yourself some grace! For example, even choosing to walk instead of taking the bus/train/car is one seemingly effortless way to get your steps in, without derailing your already existing routine! Another trick I like to try, because it's visually appealing to me and fun, is nature walks, and eating all the colors of the rainbow in vegetables and fruits each day! Many nations deemed "blue zones" tend to implement this trick, and it looks something like this:
Red: Tomatoes/Beets
Orange: Orange/Orange Bell Pepper (lol)
Yellow: Squash/Cauliflower/Yellow Bell Pepper
Green: Kale/Asparagus/Brussel Sprouts (lots of options here, haha)
Blue: Blueberries/Blue Corn/Cabbage
Purple: Eggplant/Plums
If you end up giving any of these a try, let me know how it goes! You got this, and I believe in you :)
@frothyHope8294
"For example, even choosing to walk instead of taking the bus/train/car is one seemingly effortless way to get your steps in, without derailing your already existing routine!"
To simplify it even more.... I park in the farthest space away from the door when I go to the store etc.....not only does it give you more steps, there are usually less cars there for someone to ding your car with their door or shopping cart or what ever.....its a win/win situation lol.....also, taking the stairs vs elevator is another easy way to get in some healthy exercise....or a desk riser for those stuck in an office all day....I added one to my desk, and even though I'm not getting in steps per se, I'm also not sitting on my behind all day either.....I've managed to find a healthy balance between sitting and standing when I'm stuck behind the desk....
@ScorpiaD
To stay motivated even on busy days, I create a calendar and set alarm clocks to go off at specific times throughout the day.
This is a hard one. The short answer is, I often don't.
When I do, I usually spot that I've gone from one thing to the next and find the easiest healthy 'yes'. One that often makes it easier to make the next healthy yes. At the moment, this is a Fabrice Midal meditations on centr (15 mins or less), or a sound bath or one of the sub 10 min routines on the Find What Feels Good membership (some also available free on YouTube Yoga with Adrienne).
I do have healthy habits and am disciplined but the busiest and most stressful days, especially as a parent to a young kid, leave me with little in the tank. And discipline does take effort.
So. Small wins. Small rewards. Try again the next day.
@ScorpiaD i try my best to push through and think about my end goals or the people who have/are supporting ,e
