Are you someone who has difficulty sticking to a routine when it comes to your health? Maybe you start with the best of intentions but eventually fall off track. It’s easy to let things slide and find excuses not to follow through with your plans. I will let you in on a secret; there is no wagon to fall off. It’s just your life, through all the ups and downs. But either way, if we are going to see the progress we need to find consistency. Here are a few tips on being more consistent with your health habits. The key is making small sustainable changes.
- The first thing is to set up a morning routine. Science has shown that your morning routine can set the tone for how consistent your health habits are throughout the day. A morning routine is a great way to set yourself up for success. To be consistent, make a plan and stick to it. Don’t set yourself up for failure by drastically changing your diet or workout routine overnight. Start small and stack your wins. Find what works for you. Not everyone enjoys doing the same workouts or eating the same foods – find what works for YOU and stick with that! If you have specific goals in mind, it will be easier to stick to a routine.
- Don’t deprive yourself. Instead of giving up sugar entirely because it’s terrible for you, try cutting back by half and see how it goes. You don’t have to change everything at once radically, so don’t deprive yourself of treats completely. You will be more likely to crave for it and end up overeating. By allowing yourself to indulge in your favorite foods and activities occasionally, you’ll be less likely to feel overwhelmed and give up altogether. This doesn’t mean that you should let yourself go completely wild – moderation is still key – but simply enjoying some of the things that make life enjoyable will help keep you on track and more sustainable.
- Find a support system. Whether it’s friends, family, or a fitness community online, having people who will cheer you on and hold you accountable is crucial for staying motivated. They may help you get through the rough patches, and they will always encourage you when things are going well. This isn’t just about being healthy—it’s about building up a network of people who will have your back no matter what. However, if there are no people around who can support our goals, we need another way to stay motivated- like setting up reminders throughout the day to forget what needs to be done next.
The most important key point to be consistent is knowing your WHY. You’ve probably heard the saying, “if you don’t know your WHY, you won’t stick to your HOW.” And it’s true! If you’re not clear why you’re working towards a particular goal, it will be much harder to stay motivated when things get tough. Why are you doing this? What is your motivation to create this new habit in your life? Knowing your “why” will help keep you consistent and drive to stick with it even when you don’t feel like it. So, take some time to think about your why and write it down somewhere visible. Keeping it front and center will help remind you of what’s important each time you’re considering skipping a workout or eating that extra slice of cake. Successful habits aren’t built overnight, but knowing your why’s can make the journey a little bit easier.