Job. Family. Friends. Church. Life is full of many responsibilities. Building healthy habits on top of all your existing obligations can feel overwhelming, even when those habits seem simple. A healthy living style is not in and of itself difficult to create, but it is overwhelming because there is a belief that you have to change everything overnight. The use of social media has enhanced the pressure to completely change your living style right away.
The good news is—you do not have to change everything today. To build a healthy life that supports both your physical and mental well-being, it is important to proceed at your own pace. To reduce the overwhelming nature of creating new habits, make small changes. Learn how to start a healthy living lifestyle without feeling overwhelmed.
Don’t Change Everything at Once
A common mistake is changing everything at once. Many people who desire a healthier lifestyle will implement a strict diet, extreme workout plan, large water intake goal, and new sleep schedule at the same time. However, jumping straight into that many changes, while it might feel good at first, is an unhealthy approach. This approach makes the lifestyle change overwhelming and can lead to burnout. Burnout is often what leads many to revert back to their unhealthy habits.
To avoid burnout, choose one or two habits to change at a time. For instance, if we use the same list as stated above (diet, workout, water intake, sleep schedule), it will work best if the individual first focuses on their water intake rather than developing a whole new diet. Then, once that goal has become a habit, move on to the next achievable goal.
This approach to healthy habits will not only reduce stress about being perfect right away but also reduce the chances of burnout. This leads to healthier habits that are more likely to last over time. Focusing on one step at a time will make a healthy lifestyle much less of an overwhelming task.
Start Small and Realistic
When implementing a new goal, it is important to start small and realistically. When working toward a new goal, such as exercising regularly, it is easy to push yourself too hard and too fast. For instance, a person starting a new workout plan may set a goal of working out every night for at least an hour. While this goal might work for the first few days or even the first week, this goal will most likely not be sustainable in the long run and may result in burnout. Especially if this goal does not align with one’s current lifestyle.
Start small. Jumping straight into intense workouts can leave you feeling exhausted, discouraged, and more likely to quit before the habit has a chance to develop. The reality is that to build a healthier way of living, you must start small and work your way up. When starting a new workout plan, it is best to start with weights that provide a minor challenge and a shorter time limit, such as thirty minutes. Then, as you become grounded in your routine, add a couple of pounds to your weights or even lengthen your workout time.
With every new goal, you need to look at your current lifestyle and what realistically can fit in your current schedule. For many, working out for an hour every day is not realistic, not only due to work, but also personal responsibilities; choosing 1–3 days a week to work out or even simply increasing activity levels may work tremendously. Each person’s life and responsibilities are different, which means each goal will look different. Look at your life and find what works for your lifestyle.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
A new goal is much harder to achieve when you focus on perfection instead of progress. The constant connection today has built a culture of comparison and has pressured many into believing that they must be perfect on the first try. But here is the reality—healthy living is not all or nothing.
Due to the constant accessibility to people all over the world online, it is very easy to compare what your approach to healthy living looks like to someone else’s. This comparison builds a fear and need for perfection. For instance, if you establish a good diet for yourself, but it is not the same as someone else’s, it can become easy to believe that you are not doing enough. This mindset can be especially strong when you have a bad day and don’t complete your personal goals. But looking different than someone else or having one bad day does not erase the work that you are doing.
Instead of believing that you need to be perfect, focus on the progress that you are making. If you are working on establishing a diet and decide to eat dessert, instead of thinking, I messed up, so I might as well give up, reframe your mindset to I’ve been working hard and allowed myself to have this treat today. Consistency is more important than unrealistic, immediate perfection.
Create Habits That Work for You
There are many ways to approach a healthy living style, but you will need to approach it in a way that best works for you. Trends come and go, especially when it comes to healthy living. Not every trend will work for you. To build a healthy and sustainable living style, you need to create habits that work specifically for you.
Sustainable habits look different for everyone. For instance, while one person might need to get out of the house to be motivated, another might not have time to travel due to other responsibilities. For the first person, an affordable gym membership would help them in their workout goals, while for the second person, at-home equipment can help ease exercise into their daily schedule. Whatever approach you decide to take to workouts, meals, or other habits, make sure it works for your specific needs.
Find something that works with your schedule and that you genuinely enjoy. If running is hard, but you want to focus on cardio, find an alternative such as biking, hiking, or swimming. Doing what you enjoy will help you maintain your new habit.
Reduce Information Overload
One of the biggest reasons that healthy living feels overwhelming is the amount of information that is available today. Social media, podcasts, blogs, and advertisements are constantly promoting new diets, workout plans, and health trends. While the information can be helpful, too much information can make it difficult to figure out where to start.
Instead of following every trend or buying the latest health gadget, focus on the basics. Drinking enough water, getting proper sleep, eating balanced meals, managing stress, and staying active are some habits that are most beneficial. Once you have established the basic habits, you can decide whether any additional changes would be right for you.
Remember, every piece of advice that you are given online does not apply to your life. What works for one person may not work for someone else, and that’s okay. Simplicity is better than chasing the latest health trend.
Celebrate the Small Victories
Finally, as you build healthy habits, celebrate the small victories. Yes, one week you may not eat as well as you planned, but you did meet your water goal. Celebrate that. You may not get ten thousand steps in, but you took time out for a walk. Celebrate that. You may not get to sleep by 10 pm, but you did get to sleep before 12 am. Celebrate that. Your victories will look different than those around you, but they are victories, nonetheless. Recognize your progress. Don’t minimize it.
Healthy living is a lifelong journey, not a destination. There will be weeks when you make significant progress, and other times when your goals take a back seat. What matters most is your willingness to continue moving forward. Every healthy choice, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. Each and every step helps you build lasting habits. That is why each step is a small victory of its own.
Conclusion
So, when you get overwhelmed, step back and focus on what comes next. What is the next best step? Focus on what you can do today. Remember that caring for your physical and mental well-being is an investment in your future and the people who depend on you. The gradual changes that you make will help you build a sustainable, realistic, and healthy living style over time. Healthy living does not begin with perfection, but with progression.
About the Author
Alyssa Pike is a student studying professional writing. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends. She is currently working on writing and publishing her first YA novel.