Getting a Healthy Lifestyle Begins with Your Mindset
(Health Secrets Newsletter) Having goal directed behaviors is essential to good health and longevity. Taking action towards your dreams and desires sends a powerful message to nature saying your are a vital player in the game of life. But it’s not always easy to stay consistent and build momentum. Taking action gets you on the road to proper planning and nurtures the drive to succeed. Those that continue to take action are the ones who see the best results.
How do you motivate yourself to continue working toward your dreams, especially when you face challenges or difficult times? Although some strategies will inspire you more than others, it’s good to experiment with several different ways of finding what works best for you. Then, when things start going wrong, you can rely on one of these strategies to get back on track and focused on the end game.
It’s always helpful to have an arsenal full of available techniques such as these:
1. Break your goal into smaller, attainable steps. This is particularly helpful if you’re working toward a major goal. Break it up into a series of small tasks that you know you can achieve. After each step, celebrate and reward yourself for a job well done. With small steps, you’ll be more likely to stay on task because your rewards come more often. And, don’t lose sight of the fact that small steps pave the way to lasting results Point yourself in the direction you want to go and begin moving. You will eventually get there – I promise!
2. Acknowledge your limitations and stumbling blocks. You know yourself best and can identify those things that have derailed you in the past. If you move too slowly, you know deep down that you need to be taking more action or perhaps you’ll lose interest because it’s taking too long. However, when you try to do too much, you risk burnout. Figure out that sweet spot where you can achieve success without stress, and you’ll remain motivated to keep on keeping on.
3. Take away your distractions. There are some things that are more likely to distract you than others. Be honest and remove yourself from situations that might offer interference to achieving your goal. Keep your eye on the prize and stay in a position of empowerment by avoiding those things that might be a hindrance. For instance, if you’re a social person, perhaps you’ll need to dedicated specific periods of time to work on your objective. Also, avoid things that are all consuming and tend to monopolize our time like Facebook, Xbox, and television especially during the time you’ve set aside for goal achievement.
4. Ask for the help. Reaching out to others is a sign of strength and courage. There’s only so much you can accomplish in one day all by yourself. It’s true that sometimes you’ll have to manage certain things on your own, but if there’s any way at all that someone else can lend a hand, consider that possibility. Allow someone else the special gift of being able to give, while you appreciate and be open to receive. It’s an amazing experience to openly appreciate receiving since we are so programmed to give.
5. Learn what energizes you. Sometimes you’ll find that there’s a period in the day where you go into a slump. Maybe you have trouble getting started in the morning, or perhaps it’s the afternoon that causes you to feel sluggish. Find some activity that invigorates you, wakes you up, and gets your motor started. One thing that can ignite a spark in you is a good exercise routine. It’ll raise your heart rate and send fresh oxygen to your brain. Breath deep! Taking a short 10 minute walk, outside if possible, is a wonderful rejuvenator. This will refresh you, help you think more clearly, and get you back to focusing on the task at hand.
6. Keep a To Do List. A structured schedule, an organized plan, and a To Do List you can check off will assist in keeping you motivated and on track. As you begin visualizing your goals, be very specific when choosing what steps you need to do and when. This way, when you finish a step, you won’t have to spend time figuring out what you’re supposed to do next. And, as mentioned earlier, checking something off the list is a great opportunity to celebrate!
Success is a result of purposeful action. Point yourself in the direction you want to go and begin taking small steps toward the end game. Spend a minute or two thinking about what you’ve done to accomplish desires in the past. Chances are you had a plan and followed through step by step. When you remain motivated, focused, and passionate you’ll reach whatever goal you set out to accomplish!
Read more of Donna’s blogs at renovateyourlifestyle.com
