Although you don’t have to wait for the new year to start making healthier changes in your daily life, it can be the perfect time to change your perspective and refocus on the kind of life you want to live.

Many people’s New Year’s Resolutions focus on health and wellness goals, with major weight loss/fitness changes and healthier eating being a priority. In my practice, I‘ve learned that self-care truly is health care, and investing in your overall health and well-being will exponentially enhance your quality of life.

It’s no secret that trying to make big changes like these all at once can be overwhelming — and often end in failure. Medical literature suggests that 95% of diets fail, or 95% of people fail on a diet. The reason for this is many people don’t have clear guidelines on how to get to their goals, or ways of making new habits stick.

With that in mind, I’m sharing my top tips on how to start and maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to create a life you love.

Change Your Perspective

As Norman Vincent Peale once said: “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Committing to a healthier lifestyle starts with changing your perspectiveon the goal, creating a positive daily mindset, and focusing on how you want to feel.

Instead of focusing on the goal of losing weight, for example, reframe your thinking to focus on how you want to feel when you reach that goal.

I want to feel stronger. More vibrant. Resilient. I want to start living a healthier life so I can continue to age gracefully.

Focus on the feeling you want to achieve and align every action to that feeling.

Start Small And Keep It Simple

New habits don’t happen overnight. They’re a series of simple, small routines done consistently until they stick… over 30 days to be exact. So start small, keep it simple, and add on from there.

If your goal is to drink 8+ glasses of water a day, simply begin by drinking one extra glass of water a day until that becomes easy. Start implementing one new habit at a time. Go for one walk around the block. Add leafy greens to one meal a day.

If you keep performing and perfecting actions that move you closer to your goals, eventually you will attain them. Success in life is guaranteed – you just need to be willing to try enough times.

Find Something To Get – And Keep – You Moving

Regular exercise is not just essential for your weight loss and wellness goals, but is also proven to help boost your immune system and improve your mental health.

You may need to try various activities to get your body moving before you find something you can really get into and enjoy regularly. Yoga, rowing, running, Crossfit, golf, Zumba, swimming, powerlifting, dance… Try new ways of moving your body until daily movement becomes a habitual way of life.

TIP: Start with a simple 10-15 minute walk when you wake up or after dinner. Add on from there!

Do What You Can With What You Have

If you aren’t able to make it to a gym but have a goal to feel stronger and healthier this year, schedule time to workout from home on your own or with a buddy. You can use your own body weight or hand weights and plan out your workout using free fitness videos or phone apps. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just start somewhere.

Make Simple, Healthy Choices

Not every meal has to be Pinterest-worthy. Skip the fancy stuff and just focus on eating real food – not from a box. Choose local, fresh ingredients where you can. Eat more vegetables. Drink more water. Sleep more. And don’t give up if you have a misstep on the way to your goal. Simply acknowledge it, recover and hop back on track!

Focus On Your Overall Health

True health encompasses mental health along with physical health. Focusing on balancing your blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI goes along with balancing your overall well-being, happiness, and peace.

Having A Tough Time Reaching Your Goals Or Feeling Overwhelmed?

Join a support group, reach out to a professional, or ask for help from family and friends. When working towards your goals this year, remember that it’s not all or nothing. So “if you stumble, make it part of the dance”, right? Set small, attainable goals for yourself and take everything one day at a time. You deserve a life that makes you feel good!

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