6 tips to stay motivated as you take your first steps toward wellness
Who wouldn't want to feel full of vitality, overflowing with energy, have clear ideas, feel accomplished and radiant in their life? I'm willing to bet that most of us want to achieve this state of well-being and have health-related goals! Adopting healthier eating habits, getting (back) in shape, having more time for ourselves, better managing stress, living a more "natural" life... So many beautiful, healthy and vibrant goals! Inspiring, isn't it?
I am often told that the hardest part is not necessarily getting started, but staying motivated to maintain your healthy lifestyle habits and achieve your goals... What do you think?
To help you achieve well-being, I'm sharing 6 powerful tips to help you stay motivated.
1. Know your “why” (align your goal with your core values)
Finding and understanding "why" you want to make this change(s) in your life. Giving meaning to this goal you cherish. This, in my opinion, is the basis of all lasting change.
Before you even set your wellness goal, be curious! Ask yourself “why” am I doing this? Let yourself be surprised by your answer. It’s usually deeper than it seems…
To help you, I invite you to take the time to identify your 3 or 4 most important deep values. You can write them down. Examples of values are: love, freedom, pleasure, family, generosity, sharing, respect, ecology, peace, fulfillment, etc.
Next, explore whether the change you want to undertake is consistent with your deepest values. Does it respect them? If so, you will be starting on a much more solid foundation. If not, it would be good to review your objective and adapt it so that your values are honored. Believe me, it is very difficult to feel real well-being, to vibrate, to flourish while acting against your values.
2. Have a realistic and achievable goal.
What goal do you want to achieve? Better overall health? More energy? Achieving better physical fitness? Feeling a gentle sense of calm within? That's a good start.
Freely ask yourself “What do I want?”
It's important that your goal is both realistic and achievable. This may seem obvious, I grant you. But how many people do you know who joined a gym to get in shape, yet hate being confined indoors? There you go!
Dare to push your thinking further… What do I want? With whom? When? Where? The more specific, precise and contextualized your goal is, the easier it will be for you to check your progress along the way.
Go even further and ask yourself: How will I know I've achieved my goal? Concretely...what will you see? What will you hear? What will you feel? These questions are essential to ask yourself in order to clearly visualize and integrate the journey you are about to take.
3-Find partners, why not?
If you're one of those people who feels more motivated when they're accompanied, why not talk about your new habits to a friend, colleague or family member who could join you? Your motivation will only be amplified! Cooking healthy meals together once every two weeks, walking during lunchtime with a colleague, doing a home workout with the kids, treating yourself to a relaxing activity with your mother once a month...
If you're more of a loner, the people around you can also be great allies. By talking to them about your new habits, you might be surprised to receive encouragement and support! A nice bonus!
4-Know how to prioritize (make space in your daily life).
As mentioned above, once you know your predominant values, it will be much easier for you to identify your priorities in life. You will then be more aware of what is important to you and what is less so. It is true that life often goes by very quickly and that the days are very full. In this context, it is utopian to believe that you can do everything and be everywhere at the same time! Choices must be made, and to be in harmony with yourself, I invite you to listen to your deep values, your inner voice and the needs it communicates to you. Sometimes you have to let go of certain things and make room for others, but that is change!….Dare to do things differently to obtain new results ;-)
5- Being able to measure your progress
As you move toward change and integrating new lifestyle habits, you may experience ups and downs. This is not only normal, but also perfectly fine. It's a process...and it's beneficial to take it slowly, one step at a time.
“However far you go, however high you climb,
you have to start with a simple step"
– SHITAO
Most importantly, while your end goal is clear, it's essential to be able to measure your progress. So, you could set several small, measurable goals that will demonstrate that you're still on track! Not only will this keep you motivated, but it will also allow you to celebrate several small victories :)
6- Have fun
Last but not least, have fun in what you do! Did you know that for the same goal, there are always several ways to achieve it? So, don't limit yourself to a single option that seems more or less interesting to you. Let your imagination run wild, experiment, be creative, and don't hesitate to choose actions that give you pleasure!
In closing, know that a certified coach can be useful to help you get started on your journey towards health and well-being, support you in this process and help you stay motivated so that you can shine. Good luck!
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