How have your first attempts at healthy resolutions been going? Did you try a new workout class or get out of bed earlier like you were supposed to? For many, it seems like resolutions are made to be broken. People poke fun at resolutions because peoples’ intentions are not as strong as they thought they were. I’ve been there, broken my resolutions and joked when others gave up theirs. But, why do we do this? Why shouldn’t we take resolutions seriously? Goals and direction are a good thing! Especially, when it comes to health! I want to share 3 tips I have gleaned when it comes to setting healthy living goals and keeping them (for the most part).
1) Sign up for an event: You may have set the goal that you want to be more “fit” this year, but what does that mean? For me and for most, it means “I don’t want flabby arms” or to “wear the swimsuit I want in the summer,” but those aren’t very measurable goals. We are hard on ourselves and the “fit” goal is always changing. Instead of getting stuck in this cycle, set measurable goals and dates. One of my friends had the “fit” goal last year and decided to sign up for 2 5Ks and a triathlon. Instead of focusing on her appearance, she worked towards shaving seconds instead of weight. It pushed her to workout because she knew that everyday the dates for her events were getting closer. She finished all her events and had great self-confidence by the end of the year.
2) Accountability: This is an area that I tend to duck out on most of the time. When you tell someone your intentions, then you can assume they will be forming an opinion about you based on whether or not you complete the task. No one likes that scrutiny, but we need it to achieve. Tell a friend your goals and ask them to workout with you when you think you’ll just skip today. It is so much more fun when you have a community cheering you on! Find a gym that is focused on your health and community instead of your image. I’ve been to both kinds of gyms, and its much easier to focus on what you need to work on when you quit comparing yourself with the other people there.
3) Health is holistic: Losing weight, eating well, and exercising go hand in hand, but that is just the base. Health is a lifestyle choice in all avenues of life. When you decide to treat your body, your family, and your home with the dignity they deserve, then your whole mindset shifts. For me, that meant that I switched from using harmful chemicals to Norwex products. Why work so hard to eat well and exercise if on the other front you are sabotaging your efforts by using products that are known to significantly affect your health? Use personal care products that actually care about YOU! Norwex has some awesome personal care products and there are many other organic makeup options joining the market.
What has worked for you in the past? What do you hope to achieve in the health area of your life this year? If it is to throw out the harmful chemicals in your home and use something that will not cause disease, then contact me and we can talk about setting up a Safe Haven in your home!
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Suzanne
I have a friend who signed up for a series of walking events put on by different charities that she supported. Not only did this help her stay in shape, but she felt good about making donations to the charities, and she had fun meeting people involved in the different events.
My family has been working on shifting toward using more and more organic, safe products in all areas of our lives. I appreciate that your website is a good resource for these kinds of products. 🙂