According to Mintel data, 43% of Americans agree that living a modern lifestyle makes it challenging to be healthy. Nevertheless, you are probably still feeling motivated to exercise more, eat well, drink less caffeine, and make other positive lifestyle changes you have set your sights on. However, making lifestyle changes can be quite difficult, particularly if you want to change several things at once. Fortunately, you can make your new habits stick by following certain effective tips. You can also look to get expert help and coaching from people like Dr Govind Krishna. Here are some of the best things you can do to make lasting lifestyle changes.
- Start small
Many people are often overly excited about lifestyle changes that they want to transform their lives overnight. However, change seldom happens all at once and is often unpleasant. Therefore, taking on too much at once can cause you to be overwhelmed and eventually give up. Therefore, start small by changing one behavior at a time. Then, try adding another goal that contributes to the overall change you are working towards after successfully changing the first bad behavior.
Furthermore, break down all your short and long-term goals into smaller, more manageable steps that you can easily define and measure. For example, a long-term goal of losing 20 pounds by the middle of the year is undoubtedly a great idea. A great weekly target will be losing just a single pound a week, which is less intimidating and easily achievable. Similarly, you can simply start replacing unhealthy desserts with better options if your overall goal is to eat healthier.
- Make an informed decision
Many experts agree that it is easier to sustain lifestyle changes if backed by solid evidence. Therefore, it is always best to discover your “why” before making any major lifestyle change. For example, quitting drinking alcohol as a health trend is advisable, but you will likely relapse if you don’t know the benefits of giving up drinking. On the other hand, it would be easier to stop drinking if you knew about the positive benefits on your liver, mood, stress levels, and cognitive abilities.
Similarly, you can make informed decisions after doing particular important tests. For instance, genetic testing from providers like MedComp Sciences can help you know whether you are at risk of diseases like obesity and bipolar disorder. This way, you can make the right choices to suppress potential triggers of such conditions.
- Consider carrot-and-stick measures
It is common knowledge that people are likely to achieve something when promised a reward. Indeed, in a three-week study from Northwestern University, participants were instructed to make healthy changes like exercising more or reducing time spent watching TV after being paid $175. The financial reward incentivized the participants, and a whopping 86% of people stuck with the changes after the study. Therefore, consider dangling a carrot in front of yourself as motivation to stick with the changes you make. This “carrot” can be anything, from money to a cheat snack. Likewise, “punish” yourself for breaking your word or commitment to ensure accountability.