Each year, many people plan on starting and living a healthier lifestyle. But this is also one of many failed attempts to create a healthy change. There are many reasons for this, including a lack of motivation, procrastination, a poor diet, and exercise planning. Only after a few weeks or months of trying to adopt healthy habits, some would quit while others can’t find any change at all. This usually happens when we embrace a healthy lifestyle change the wrong way.
It is effortless to make mistakes when trying to achieve a healthier life. But if you commit mistakes like the following, you won’t be able to fulfill your healthy lifestyle goals.
You Haven’t Consulted With a Doctor Just Yet
The best way to prevent yourself from falling into sickness is to get routine checkups from your general physician. The same goes if you want to start living a healthy life. Not knowing your current state will make it hard for you to come up with the best ways to start living healthier.
Checkups are based on your physical condition, age, risk factors, presenting signs and symptoms, among many others. With regular checkups, you can tell your doctor if something feels off. They can then recommend a series of tests to ensure if your signs and symptoms could be caused by a certain health condition or not.
Consulting with a doctor will allow you to get to know your health better. They can tell you what kind of foods you are safe to consume and what kinds of exercise will benefit you the most. Some people would be surprised to learn that they fail to be healthy because they have an underlying condition.
For instance, people with hashimotosthyroiditisneed treatment and will require a professional’s help in improving the symptoms. Without the intervention, one’s condition won’t improve. If you accidentally eat something you are not supposed to when modifying your own diet, you can end up with a serious complication instead of a healthier body.
You’re Trying to Adapt and Loose too Many Habits at the Same Time
One of the most common reasons we tend to live an unhealthy lifestyle is due to the many bad habits we’ve developed in the past. Like they say, old habits are never easy to quit while new habits are so easy to forget. If you try to change all these in one go, chances are you’ll fail terribly and will only go back to your old ways.
If you really want to make a healthy change, focus on one habit at a time. What you need is to start a gradual change to get yourself used to the new habit. Put your attention on quitting or adapting a habit before you move on to the next.
Think about your motivation, and don’t rush the process. Sure, it will be a lot better if you can impose the change asap. But if you want lifelong changes, focus on one goal at a time, and it will be easier for you to follow through with the next.
You’re Too Eager to See the Results
We know how excited you are about achieving your health goals. You want to see big changes in the soonest time possible and are willing to work hard for it. But like all good things that last, you need to be patient, be consistent, and resilient.
Most people who are too eager to recognize results are also the first ones to quit. The reason is they let their disappointment cloud their judgment. Remember that one can’t magically achieve better health after just a few months of healthy eating, staying active, sleeping well, and being happy.
Instead of focusing on the results, put your eyes on the goal, and concentrate on what you have to do. Build healthy habits that will foster long-lasting health benefits. Don’t let a delay stop you from reaching your goal.
You Put Off Doing Things You Are Uncomfortable Doing
Most people hate stepping out of their comfort zone. Some people don’t like hitting the gym because they are afraid of other gym-goers. Others are afraid to start eating healthy because their family won’t be supportive enough.
Procrastinating and allowing your fear to stop you from continuously chasing a healthy lifestyle won’t get you anywhere. Remember that going out of your comfort zone is good for you. This will help you become stronger, more confident, and mentally resilient.
Don’t think about what other people would say and focus on your goal. Find someone who won’t judge you but will support you in your new adventure. The only real person that can stop you from reaching what you want to achieve is yourself.
There is no easy way to make a healthy change. But there are things you canavoid to makethe journey a more manageable and successful one. Don’t take your regular checkups for granted and focus on one habit at a time. Stop procrastinating and start daring yourself to step out of your comfort zone. If you are keen on starting a healthier life this year, you can use this list as your guide.