Finding consistency in your desired lifestyle is simple, but not always easy. It is fairly simple to write an outline of the habits you want to accomplish. It is fairly simple to do these things for a day or maybe a week, but it's not always easy to make these habits a part of who you are.
Goal setting tends to be romanticized. The exciting idea of starting new motivates us and gives us energy, but what do we do when the motivation and energy dies down (because it will)?
Goals must be specific and achievable.
I’ve found that goal setting, when done well, is productive. You just have to dig a little deeper and turn your vague goal into an actionable habit that can be achieved day after day (even when it's hard). Actionable habits achieved day after day are what give you a new lifestyle.
Here are some steps to take to turn your vague end goal and turn it into actionable habits–
> IDENTIFY: Identify your end goal.
Example: “I want to lose 20 lbs”.
> WHY: Give your goal more meaning.
Example: Feel more confident, keep up with my kids, improve health biomarkers.
> HOW: Make your broad end goal more specific.
Example: Eat better, move more, get more sleep.
> SPECIFY: Make your goals REALLYYY specific.
Example: Eat 20g of protein with each meal, attend BPG class 4x per week, sleep at least 7 hours per night.
> PREPARE: Create your environment and develop the tools you need.
Example:
Pre-plan your meals for the week and create a grocery list or order pre-made meals.
Book your classes ahead of time around your schedule and put them on your calendar- make them non-negotiable.
No phone time past 8 PM. Put a sticky note by your bed as a reminder or charge your phone across the room.
> ACTION: Make a checklist of your habits and do it for 10 weeks.
Make a deal with yourself that the habits must be non-negotiable.
Got a vacation scheduled? Figure out how to include it in your vacation.
Now that you have a set of actionable habits, how do you really make them consistent?
INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
You have to be committed. If you are halfway in, it will be so easy to talk yourself out of it when you get tired or something better comes up.
Your steps must be doable. On a scale of 1-10, each habit you choose to take on should be an 8+. If they aren’t, you need to do some mindset work to prepare.
You need support. Surround yourself with friends who support your goals. Let them know that you are making some changes. Challenge your spouse to work towards healthy habits with you.
FUNCTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Eliminate the possibility of failure, which is a fancy way of saying be prepared. Have a backup plan. If your goal is more protein, have several on the go options stocked up at your house, in your bag, and at work. If you forget your lunch or don’t have time to pack, you have options ready to go.
Breathe, count to 10, and ask if it’s worth it. If you are tempted to skip a workout, breathe and process for a moment the decision. Recall your WHY and decide if it’s worth it.
Each choice matters. Each decision to stay the course is a commitment to yourself and proves that you are indeed capable of living the lifestyle you want. Each decision to live healthy makes it harder to make the opposite choice.
There will be opposition. Your kids will want different foods and people will ask you to do activities outside your workout routine. You have to choose to stay the course for you, knowing you will be better for them because of it.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Balance is important. Choosing to eat the dessert occasionally is OKAY. Just know that commitment to yourself and your health is very important too. If you decide to eat the dessert every single time, you probably won’t be able to achieve your goals.
Big change requires big commitment. You’ll have to get uncomfortable in different areas of your life in order to see change. You won't get there with half the commitment.
In conclusion, a healthy lifestyle is balanced, meaning it is sustainable. If we are trying to truly change our lifestyle, our goals aren’t tasks that make us miserable, they make us better. When we go on vacation, we can still eat high protein foods, go for walks, and get plenty of rest, while also trying the famous dessert, enjoying activities with the family, or participating in the girls night out. Living a healthy lifestyle means making choices that align with what that means to you the majority of the time - do your choices align with the lifestyle you want to live?
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