Making Healthy Habits Stick
Want to lose weight? Ready to quit smoking? Or perhaps you want to start exercising more? Making lifestyle changes to incorporate healthier habits can be overwhelming, especially if you have big goals for yourself. Here are a few tips to making those healthy habits stick.
1.) Dream big, but start small: It is good to envision your end goal, but it is important to be able to set small steps along the way. It’s much easier to focus on one step at a time, while keeping your end goal in mind.
2.) Be specific: Instead of saying “I want to lose weight”, say “I want to lose 25 pounds.” Even better, say “I want to lose 1 pound a week.” The more specific and manageable your goals, the easier they are to accomplish.
3.) Get support: This could be a friend who has accomplished what you are working towards, a healthcare professional like an acupuncturist or nutritionist, or a wellness coach. Just choose someone with more experience than you who will be able to encourage you along the way, and offer insight into the process.
4.) Write it down: The act of putting pen to paper actually makes it easier for our brains to retain an idea. Write your goal down, and post it in places where you will see if frequently!
5.) Be gentle with yourself: We all stumble from time to time. Instead of beating yourself up, treat yourself the way you would treat someone you care about. Beating yourself up only makes you feel worse, which makes it more difficult to stick with your new habits. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and determine to choose better next time.
Remember, a healthy lifestyle comes one choice at a time!
Looking for support in meeting your wellness goals? Visit our website at www.AcuWellWI.com to schedule an appointment!