thelifegym

We are swamped with information on healthy living. We know to eat fruit and vegetables every day, we know we have to exercise regularly, we know we shouldn’t smoke, we know we should “enjoy alcohol responsibly” and we know we should remain calm when all around us are losing their heads.We know this, but we (or at least most of us) ignore this advice except maybe for the first week in January when the guilt of the previous year is washed away with a 7 day detoxification plan or gym membership.

So what should we do differently? How can we break the cycle of action and relapse? Here are 5 simple steps to better health. To succeed you must complete each step thoroughly.

1.       Take 100% responsibility for your health

Take on with all your heart, mind and soul that you are 100% responsible for your health. On one hand this is challenging especially if you are currently enduring a serious illness. Nevertheless, by taking on this belief you will feel you have complete control of your health. Today’s health status is determined by yesterday’s habits. We can do nothing about this though, so we must instead look at how we change today’s habits to determine tomorrow’s health.

By taking 100% responsibility for tomorrow’s health we take the first step to avoid the negative health outcomes which currently lay ahead for us if we continue to over-eat, smoke, binge drink and live a life full of stress.

2.       Make your health goals inspirational and clear

Make time to sit down and write down your emotional and physical health goals. Express these goals in a way that inspires you. Write them down as if you have already achieved the goals. Read them every morning and every night. Check in with yourself to make sure they are inspiring. Make a Mind Map of your goals and put them on your fridge. Build a vision board of your goals and put them where you will see them every day.

Make your goals unique to you. Tell others about your goals. Shout your goals out loud. Live, breath and feel your goals at all times.

Avoid the mistake people often make when setting health goals. Instead of saying “I want to give up smoking”, say “I am a non-smoker!” Instead of “I want to lose 12 kg” say “I am a size 10!” or “I weigh 60 kg”

Make your goal statement positive and written as if you have already achieved the goal.

Then, tell the unconscious brain. The unconscious brain doesn’t set goals; instead it drives us towards  the goals we set. Meditate, visualise or just plainly imagine every morning and every evening how you feel, what you see and what you smell when you have achieved your goals. Imagine every detail and make it as vivid as possible.

3.       Plan and take health actions

Sit down, once a week and plan your strategies and actions to achieve your goals. What steps do you need to take to achieve your goals? What actions do you need to complete to take you closer to your goals? When are you going to take action?

We know what we have to do. We know what diet we should be eating or at least where to look. We know we need to exercise, we know we need to relax, we even know of ways to become a non-smoker.

Get your diary, commit to the actions. These are appointments you are making for you and your future. Do not let yourself down if something else comes along. If you have committed to go for a walk at 6 am on Thursday, then you go for that walk.

After 3 weeks, these new actions become habits. These new habits will take over from the old negative habits. But we must promise ourselves to take the action we plan to take. Without this commitment we lose integrity with ourselves. Without integrity we lose respect for ourselves. And without respect we care less for our future health.

4.       Love it

When we take positive health actions, we take on a new lease of life. Anchor positive emotions to these actions. If you are going for a power walk, enjoy the view, smell the roses and smile at passersby. If you are eating a meal full of greens then remind yourself of the goodness entering your body and how that goodness will burst into life in the form of energy.

Do what you’ve got to do to enjoy these actions. Think positively; keep a positive posture, smile and even laugh. When asked by others: how are you? Tell them “I’m sensational!” and notice how you feel and also notice how they react.

A positive attitude is infectious. Spread the infection. By thinking positively you will feel positive, and by feeling positive you will act positively.

5.       Celebrate success

Every day, look back on your new actions and pat yourself on the back. Well done! Keep a journal keep statistics, record your weight and monitor your actions. Tell your partner and tell your friends how you are going. Celebrate every day, every milestone and be proud of the action you are taking.

Remind yourself that you are taking action today so that you will watch your grandchildren grow and have their own children. You will avoid those chronic diseases, you will have a great quality of life when you are over 70 and you will live the life you deserve for as long as you intend.