How to start lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes they call it. What is that? Is it enough to realise that something has to give and then change one small thing? I think so.

The excuses got tackled and ‘the why’ and ‘the how’ were found, and a new way forward seemed possible. Time was being wasted before, but now I was actually feeling life coming back again. So much so that an inner voice was telling me that more change was possible too.

A process had started, an unstoppable one – a life changing one. After days became weeks, a pattern started to emerge and a new me – an energetic, lively me came back. The small steps became bigger ones – and the actual proof is in the fact that I have found a whole new life from this one first small step.

Wellness is a goal – Get a starting point

To get to the goal you first need to understand why you need it in the first place. Then you need inspiration. After that a plan, and real planning will lead you on your path to wellness.

That first step

Inspiration leads to action. Action needs a plan. Plan your work and work the plan. For this is ‘work’ – but the gain and the goal is yours.

Measure your health status

Start by measuring where you are at now. Get a health check up to know what your medical values are, and if there are any health issues you need to take into account before embarking on any change in food, exercise or health supplement. With your lab results and Doctors Ok, you have a starting point. Climb up on the scales and write down your weight. Stand up tall against a wall and measure your height (you will be surprised how much taller you stand in just a few months!). Use apps or internet sites to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) . The numbers are just that – numbers. A starting point. The goals can now be set so that you get more energy for all your daily activities.

Set your Lifestyle health goals

With your basic numbers in place you can set your goals. These should be long-term and achievable. A few steps every day, goes a very long way!

One goal can be ideal weight. There are some very good tools on the web that can help you here too. Remember that the aim is to get healthy, and weight is just a measurement.
Food knowledge and its effect on your health is key to your long-term health. Follow my blog, use my fitness food recipes, and see my tips on how to deal with food in the field. Find the joy of getting energy and fuel for your work and life.
Exercise is a key to overall fitness and here it is good to measure again. I use a number of tools that really spur me on. A pedometer to measure steps taken and kilometres achieved, and apps to see how much the movements each day put me closer to my goals.
Take note of how many hours sleep you manage to get in each night. Set a goal to get at least 6 – 8 hours each night. Read this blog to find ways to get there. Not always easy, I know – but I have managed, and so can you.
Be true to yourself, and write down how much you smoke and drink. We all have habits that we instinctively know not to be that good. Alcohol and smoking are tricky ‘friends’ – so yes….set a goal to work on these habits too.
Reading something inspirational everyday can also take you into the zone of reducing stress, moving away from your days activities and allow you to have precious ‘me – time’. I cover this aspect more in my posts, as it is essential to overall wellbeing.
Take a good look in the mirror. Take a picture of what you look like today. Visualise what you want to see in 6 months, a year, two years from now. Set a goal to take pictures as you go along, to document how your lifestyle goals change you inside and out. A visible difference that you can feel through every part of your body and mind. Enjoy the recommendations on products, websites, and apps that work with you to make you look and feel like the new you.

Work the plan

Find your inner voice that drives you forward to set the plan in motion. Tackle the excuses, and use tools to help you on your way. “Today is the first day of my new tomorrows” was my mantra. What is yours?