Three cheers for you if you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to be healthier!! Now comes the hard part – following through. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. We have some tips on how to make health lifestyle changes.

Tips for a healthier you

Set specific wellness targets: Before you start, think about what exactly you want to achieve. You’ll improve your changes of overall success if you focus on well-defined targets, such as losing weight or lowering your cholesterol.

Quantify your goals: You’ll be more successful in making lifestyle changes when you set goals you can measure. For example, a specific goal such as working out for 30 minutes, three times a week, is better than a vague goal like “working out more.”

Set a reasonable timetable: It is essential that you set a timeframe for achieving each goal. Just be sure to avoid the temptation to start too hard, too fast. Success is often a gradual process.

Be realistic: Have reasonable expectations. Set yourself several small, doable goals with short deadlines that build to the big goal. For example, rather than adding five daily fruits and vegetables to your diet all at once, add one more daily fruit or veggie each week until you reach you main goal.

Be accountable: Find a friend or family member who will motivate you and hold you accountable for the steps it takes to achieve your goals.

Don’t have an “all or nothing” mentality: Missed a workout this week? Don’t assume that if you can’t get to the gym to exercise, you might as well just head for the couch. Instead use your breaks or lunchtime to go out for a walk, take the stairs when you are going to a meeting, or lead your family on an evening bike ride. The fitness benefits will add up when you make conscious choices to build activity into your workday routine.

Enjoy yourself: Incorporating physical activity into your life doesn’t have to be an excruciating endeavor. Forcing a routine that you don’t enjoy also may be counterproductive in the long run, because you’ll be less likely to stick with it. So add some fun to your workout by exercising outdoors with friends or family, joining a sports league, or trying an interactive workout such as Nintendo’s Wii fitness games.

Labels: Health