If the answer is yes to the above, don’t worry, you are definitely not alone! Making healthy changes can be challenging and sometimes a long process but as the amazing Lao Tzu said “the journey of one thousand miles begins with one single step!”
Here are 3 simple steps you can take today to start making your healthy changes last long term.
1. Set small goals and be specific as to how you will achieve it.
When you set big goals and never really give much thought as to how you are going to specifically achieve them, it can often set you up for failure. The key to making long term changes is to start small and take tiny steps towards your goal. For example; a first small step to getting healthier could be to simply drink more water. Next, break this small goal down and get specific as to how you are going to achieve it, for example, you might need to buy a water bottle to carry in your bag or keep a water jug on your desk at work to remind you. Focus on implementing this small step into your life for a few weeks until it becomes second nature. You can then move onto the next small step. In a few months’ time you will be able to look back and see how many great changes you have made by focusing on one thing at a time!
2. Be kind to yourself.
I am not perfect, you are not perfect, the world is not perfect and that is absolutely OK! So when you wake up face down in that packet of chocolate chip cookies, instead of beating yourself up and making yourself feel worse which often makes you reach for more cookies as comfort, simply dust the crumbs off, acknowledge that you had a good time and then take one positive action step to get yourself back on track straight away! This can be in the form of a green juice, a walk or cooking a nice meal. Being kind to yourself and showing yourself compassion, understanding, empathy and self-love is probably one of the most important steps you can take to make healthy changes long lasting as good health is a journey and process, not a destination.
3. Do not deprive yourself!
Deprivation does not work and it is why I also don’t believe in dieting. When you feel you are depriving yourself of something, you are more inclined to crave that food. Rather than depriving yourself through sheer will power, I encourage you to find a healthier alternative for your favourite fatty foods. Such as; swap white potato for sweet potato, sugar for stevia, white flour for buckwheat flour, milk for almond milk or rice for quinoa. You might even want to try swapping your morning coffee for a decaf option or herbal tea. Experiment and find a healthier substitute for your food choices and habits that don’t serve you well.
