Getting started is the hardest part of making a lifestyle change! You know it’s the right thing to do….but…. Lack of motivation is often a reason we come up with to avoid starting. And, then, there’s the fact that there are so many conflicting diets floating around out there. It’s INFORMATION OVERWHELM out there on the information superhighway. It all can just turn into noise.
It’s overwhelming! It’s stressful! And, it’s discouraging.
Everyone has to start somewhere, and my suggestion is to start small. Start with little things that will work for you personally. I included a list below of things you can do to start making small changes. Keep in mind, these are my suggestions. They are 100% customizable to you.
Have you ever woken up on DAY ONE, ready to jump ALL IN?? and it definitely sounds like a good idea for about one second. The problem is that when that elevated motivation fades (and trust me, it fades) most people fall right back into their old ways. Starting with baby steps that are doable for you is the key to making a lifelong change.
5 small steps to get started on the right foot
- Drink your water! If you’re not a fan of water, add some lemon, lime or a flavoring to it to make it a little extra. Set reminders to remind you to drink a cup or more of water every hour.
- Try one new vegetable a week. If you’ve never tried kale before, for instance, buy one of those chopped salad mixes with kale in it or grab a bunch and make a soup with it. Kale isn’t just for salads, but here is a good one!
- Dress for your day. Do your hair and/or do your makeup at least twice per week. Or get all fixed up even if it’s just for a Sunday drive. It’s a real confidence booster and when you look good, you feel great. Subconsciously you will want to treat yourself better and make healthier choices.
- Set reminders in your phone that tell you to stand up/move/walk/stretch. When you are sitting at a desk a lot of the day, it can be easy to forget to move. Those minutes of movement will help you recharge and be better focused when you sit back down. (A standing desk is great too!)
- Shut off your phone for 15 minutes a day. Just do it – even if you have to start up with 5 minutes. Shut it off and put it in another room to give yourself a screen break. 15 minutes a day is one hour and 45 minutes a week without phone time! Think about what you can do with almost an extra two hours added to your day. #mylistissolong
If these five steps help, feel free to go ahead and think of something else you can do to take a baby step, and…go for it! If you ask 10 people what got them started, you would surely get 10 different answers. Different tactics work for each of us and that’s A-ok