Motivation To Be Healthy
A lot of times when we hear people say they need to be healthier or get healthier, it is associated with dieting, getting themselves to the gym, detoxing, etc. Saying we need to be “healthier” is oftentimes associated with just getting “skinnier” or losing an amount of weight that is deemed appropriate enough for people to feel more confident in themselves.
But, it is important that we steer away from grouping “healthy” and “thin/weight loss” into the same category. Healthy doesn’t always mean thin, and thin doesn’t always mean healthy. In order to motivate ourselves to be healthier, we need to realize that health encompasses the body and mind as a whole. It is important to eat healthy, exercise, and drink enough water, but it makes a difference when it comes from a place of wanting to be healthy rather than wanting to look a certain way. In today’s time where we constantly see edited and curated images of Instagram models and celebrities, it can be difficult to adopt this mindset. But, when we work on ourselves from a place of self-appreciation rather than self-deprecation, it can make a huge difference. Instead of trying to be thin or skinny, we should instead focus on trying to be fit and healthy. When we workout and eat healthy for the right reasons rather than societal pressure, it makes a world of difference.
It can also be difficult in today’s time to find the motivation to stay healthy when it involves a lot of personal effort. There are so many “shortcuts” that are shoved at us every day, whether it is on TV, in a magazine, or on a social media ad. These shortcuts always involve some kind of product that we are made to believe that we need in order to look and feel our best. In reality, most of these products do not work. They are advertised to make us feel like we need them so they can take our money, but they most likely will not make a difference in how we look or feel. The truth is that looking and feeling our best really does fall on our shoulders. The best way to be fit and healthy is to put in the effort to make time for exercise regularly, make healthy dietary changes as needed, and to be kind to ourselves. Mental and physical health are directly connected, so it is important that we build ourselves up and be kind to ourselves, as this is the underlying aspect that will keep us motivated to make healthy changes in our everyday lives.
Lastly, it is important to set smaller goals and to celebrate small victories. A lot of times we beat ourselves up because we might have fallen off the wagon for a day and didn’t work out, steered away from our diet, etc. When we do this, it is easy to lose motivation altogether and not keep up with our overall health goals. When we set smaller, more attainable goals, our overall goal becomes easier to reach because it does not seem as intimidating. When we celebrate our small victories, this keeps us motivated and in a positive mindset that is essential to reaching our overall end goal. Remember- go easy on yourself, and the rest will all fall into place! If you need more tips on how to stay healthy, contact us today!