Mindset for Health
I am always looking at ways to simplify how best to improve your health. I genuinely believe that health does not need to be complicated or complex. But it does require a comprehensive evaluation and a good plan.
A game-changer for everyone looking to make changes to improve their health is their mindset. So I looked at my most successful clients and found there are 4 main mindset actions or positions that I see to ensure they achieve their goals but also work to improve their health in the long run.
1. Consistency, not perfection
Health comes down to doing something or something consistently - "good" things mean you are healthier, "bad" things mean you are less healthy. Healthy people may be exercising regularly, eating well daily, they are sleeping well each night. Less healthy people may be drinking every night, not getting enough sleep each night, never exercising, eating processed foods often/daily. Your consistent habits are what define your health.
These consistent action takers have slip-ups, they are not perfect. But they don’t slide into bad patterns again after a slipup. They get right back to the consistent action. They give themselves credit when they do act consistently and they don’t buy into the guilt when they don’t act.
2. Tell yourself how you CAN make it work
When asked to make positive changes to improve their health, I often hear lots of reasons why someone can't make a change, instead, I encourage thought around how changes can be made. For instance, if you can't (won't?) eat veggies at each meal, can you eat veggies at 2 of three 3 main meals? If you can't exercise 4 times a week, can you exercise 2 or 3 times a week? Instead of focusing on what you can't do, instead focus on what changes, little or otherwise, you can do to improve your health. As every little bit helps.
3. Give yourself permission
In my scripts from consultations, I often recommend some atypical suggestions, such as:
Hire the house cleaner
Say no to your boss, kids, husband, friend, family member, etc
Book the appointment/holiday.
These results from conversations with clients about how best to decrease their stress - they know they need to do these things but they instead only talk about it. So, I give them permission. I know they actually don't need my permission but if they take action to decrease their stress, then I am all for it. Read more about the link between stress and gut function.
Those with good health don't look to others for permission, instead, they make the decisions to improve their health because they know it is necessary. They also tend to be happier overall, and less resentful.
4. If you make your health conditional, then you make your health optional.
I often talk to my clients about setting themselves up to succeed. For example, if they know they are going to a function on the weekend, then maybe it is best to start the dietary changes after the function.
On the other hand, people will try to propose a start date (a certain day or time of the year, after school returns, etc, etc), some indiscriminate time for no other reason than to delay starting now. Let's be honest, we can always find an excuse. Yet, when you put something or someone first, then you make your health a lesser priority. There are times when this is appropriate, but to be honest, not many times.
Instead, ask yourself what can I do now? It may be small, but usually, the best habits are started with small steps rather large ones. But the goal is to start, where you are with what you have now.
Many of these underpin the notion that health is non-negotiable: actions that are a consistent priority that require no permission or certain conditions. I am sure there are others, but these four are those that I see allow people to be healthy, now and over time.