Health - One step at a time

You may be one of the many who made a New Year’s resolution for their health, but find before February arrives that you have completely lost interest in whatever it was you had decided upon. I am not against the New Year’s resolution concept, but I have seen many go belly up even with the best intentions. The reason being that there is a huge amount of psychology around the whole living healthy paradigm, especially when we mention the word ‘diet’. That word alone seems to terrify people. I wonder if people only see the first three letters!

The thought of having to stop something that you enjoy can be very confronting and challenging and, in many cases, down-right frightening. Perhaps the most amusing part of that are the excuses that flow out of people’s mouths, “well, I am going to die of something so I might as well enjoy it” or “ if I can’t have that then I might as well be dead”! Pretty strong words I know, but they show the degree of emotional attachment we can have to certain behaviours and rituals. So what can you do to over throw the deep-seated effects of the human subconscious? Here are my top six tips;

• Make a few small changes or one significant one at a time. Avoid the temptation of more change is better. It is only better if you can stick with it! Three months is usually a fair time frame to see some significant changes.• Avoid the word DIE(T) and instead, use the term ‘life change’. This better reflects that it isn’t a five minute fix but a lifestyle change. Hence, why it is not a good idea to take on too much change in one go.

• Thoroughly understand why you are making the change and get emotionally invested in that idea. For instance, if you stop eating dairy because you have an allergy or intolerance, list all the things that it negatively does to you. Then make a list of all the good outcomes of following this new regime.

• Celebrate the commitment you have made and all the benefits that follow. If you are struggling to notice the benefits, then you need to spend more time looking for them. They can include more energy, clearer thinking, better skin and just feeling better. Tell a trusted friend; accountability is a biggie. If you tell someone you trust what you are doing that will immediately up the ante for your commitment and help to keep you on track.

• Focus on what you can have and look at creative and enjoyable ways to include more of what is good for you.

• Eating should be a pleasure and not a chore, and to sustain the long term changes, you have to enjoy what you are doing. So if you are not, then it is time to review what you are doing and why.

Eugene Sims

Health - Warkworth Natural Therapies

Health – One step at a time

Eugene Sims

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