At some point in our lives, we’ve all decided to become more active, eat nutritious meals and improve our health for a better life. We have adopted strict rules to achieve our health goals. Whether it’s hitting the gym or following a fad diet, we want to stay consistent.
However, a common dilemma that breaks down all good intentions is when the desired results don’t materialize as swiftly as we expected. Unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment, and we feel discouraged and end up abandoning them.
Abandoning health goals is quite common. In fact, in the United States of America, around 80% of people give up on their new year’s health goals in just one month. Now you must wonder why people abandon their goals and whether they are achievable.
Yes! Your goals are possible to achieve. The only thing getting in your way is impatience and all the unrealistic standards you have set for yourself.
Physical, Emotional & Psychological Health
Health goals are necessary not just for physical health but for emotional and psychological health too. The entire body is a network of bones and muscles with fluids carrying nutrients and hormones to various body parts.
So, health concerns such as depression affect around 8% of the US population, and 19.1% of Americans suffer from anxiety. These health issues can lead to other serious concerns such as drug or alcohol abuse and dependency.
Sedatives, opiates, hallucinogens, stimulants, and inhalants are the various types of drugs that people generally take to overcome emotional and psychological challenges. Caffeine and nicotine are people’s stimulants of choice to remain alert and energetic. To quit using any drugs, one needs to be strong-willed and determined.
People who become addicted to various substances need help, and facilities like the Vista Pines Health Group offer therapy and support for their efforts in overcoming their addictions. It is vital to get rid of unhealthy addictions. It should be the first goal for anyone interested in living a healthy and full life.
Taking care of yourself is very important. Hence one must start a health journey as early as possible. However, reaching health goals can be stressful to attain.
Therefore, the following four tips can help you achieve and maintain your health goals.
1. Start small
We all dream of losing 20 kgs in 2 months, which sounds great, but this is an almost impossible goal. Some of us want to hit the gym twice a day for two hours straight and win a marathon. Such ambitious goals can be hard to maintain, and ultimately, we give up altogether.
Extreme health goals put our minds and bodies under intense pressure. The pressure leads to stress which compromises overall health, and we abandon our plans. Therefore, to set realistic goals, you must understand your body first.
One way to avoid all of this is by starting small. Make attainable goals, such as losing 3 to 5 kg monthly. Try exercising 15 to 30 minutes a day or going for a 15-to-20-minute walk or a run. Starting small will make your goals appear achievable and not feel like a burden. It will give you results and will help you sustain them.
Making small goals is essential as it helps you reach your true potential mentally and physically. Small goals can also be easily incorporated into your life, especially if you have a busy routine.
Thus, small goals are the best way to start your fitness journey.
2. Lifestyle changes
The best way to maintain your health goals is by making lifestyle changes. Rather than following fad diets and extreme workout plans, choose sustainable nutritional guidelines that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Diets that cut out essential micro and macronutrients should be avoided as such diets are unsustainable. They harm our bodies and can lead to problems such as constipation, dizziness, and hair fall.
That is why it is important to opt for sustainable options that are healthy and can be easy to add to our lives. Rather than going for a diet, one should try portion control as it is a healthier option.
You can make other minor changes, such as switching from Sodas to fresh juices, avoiding sugar in hot beverages, or swapping junk food for nuts and dry fruits. Moreover, you can limit your intake of sweets and add more vegetables to your diet.
You can add your choice of physical activity to your life, such as walking, jogging, or sports. It would be best if you did exercises that you enjoy so they can become a regular part of your lifestyle.
Furthermore, your lifestyle changes will eventually turn into habits and will be a part of your daily life.
3. Prioritize
The reason behind your new health goals has to be solid and meaningful. It has to be something that becomes your driving force and takes your goals forward. If our reason for our goals is temporary, our results will be short-lived.
We want to lose weight for our friend’s wedding. We want to impress our buddies by hitting the gym. However, these reasons aren’t strong enough for our goals to survive long term. You have to prioritize yourself and your health.
We all want to lose weight and exercise to look good, but you can only change your looks to a certain extent. Once you start looking at the bigger picture, none of the above reasons will matter.
Hence, prioritizing yourself and your health will motivate and keep you consistent. It will help you accomplish your goals as now you are not just thinking about the present but the future.
4. Be easy on yourself
When we set goals, we get lost in them. We become hard on ourselves and get discouraged by the slightest inconsistency in our results. When that happens, we start beating ourselves up for it. We blame ourselves and believe we were not trying hard enough. Yet that is far from reality.
It is essential to understand that when we set health goals, we embark on a journey. One must remember that journeys are not perfect, as there will come ups and downs along the way. So, the perfectionism we strive for in our goals only makes us unkind.
Rather than beating yourself down, accept the results and keep going. For long-term goals, you have to be kind to yourself. You won’t always get your desired results, and that’s okay! Making sure you prioritize your mental health and love yourself is the only way to reach your goals.
So, the next time you cannot do an extra set of squats or have too much dessert, remember that’s alright, and it’s all part of the journey.
Conclusion
It’s good to set health goals for yourself. However, you need to set realistic goals. Developing practical and realistic expectations will not only make your goals easy, but you will also enjoy them. It will not only keep you physically healthy but mentally as well.
So, be consistent with your goals and keep going even when you don’t get your desired results. The reward for your patience and determination will always be fruitful.
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This article is published by our independent team of health and wellness pundits that publish original and informative content to empower readers to take charge of their health and embark on a physically, mentally, and emotionally balanced lifestyle.
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