5 Steps to Get Your Health Back on Track Now
/5 steps you can take today to get your health back on track. Get yourself out of a health slump by taking action now.
Have you started to let your health slide?
The healthy daily habits you used to do, have they slowly begun slipping away?
These changes can happen gradually over time.
You probably have wanted to start again but have simply gotten overwhelmed by other responsibilities and didn’t know the first step to take, so you didn’t do anything.
Sometimes change can feel really daunting. You feel like you have to do it ALL or why bother.
Go Big or Go Home
If you have the kind of stamina that can go from 0 to 100 and keep it there, then go for it. Quit your bad habits cold turkey and make enormous changes overnight. And then stick with it forever.
If you’re like most of us though, that sort of rigor just isn’t sustainable, let alone imaginable.
So what’s the answer on how to get out of a health slump?
Slow and Steady
I realize slow and steady isn’t the sexiest of mantras. It’s not the stuff that people post on Facebook to say, “I took small, incremental steps daily and I finally feel stronger and happier!”
No, people like the catchy, new body in 24-hours post. Sadly, if it were that easy, you probably wouldn’t even be reading this article right now.
An Object in Motion Stays In Motion
I’ve talked before about how an object in motion stays in motion.
Any small incremental move forward is so much better than no movement at all.
What may look like a tiny step towards your goal is not only movement to achieve what you want, but it’s also a big signal that you’re moving away from what you don’t want. That can be equally powerful.
Move Forward, Not Backward
The truth is that if you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backward.
I know. It hurts to hear.
You may be eating the same diet as you did a decade ago but sadly, your body isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago, so you need to treat it differently.
So if you’ve been paralyzed and unable to do anything, I have five things you can do right now to get the ball in motion.
Taking these steps will help you start to get you out of your slump and get your health back on track.
When you master these, you should begin to feel better in your body. Your mind should start to quiet down and then you can tackle the rest of your obligations from a place of strength and balance.
5 Steps to Get Your Health Back on Track Now
1. Fuel Your Engine
You know you have to put good fuel in your tank so you can have energy to do all that you want.
I’m not going to go through an elaborate diet plan on exactly what to eat at every meal to get your health back on track, but I do want to give you one important tip.
This is an eating method that you can use for life and use starting right now.
Eat food that looks like food.
Yup, that’s it.
A leafy green vegetable that was recently plucked from the ground is going to be super nutritious for you.
Know what’s not as nutritious? Things that come in a bag with a long list of ingredients you can’t pronounce. If you can’t pronounce it, you’re likely going to have a hard time digesting it.
So eat food in its most natural state, and the rest will be so much easier.
2. Move
If you’ve been sitting on the couch for weeks on end, it’s time to get up. You have to move your body.
I’m not saying that you need to go run a marathon, but I am saying you need to elevate your heart rate above your current comatose Netflix binge level.
Elevating your heart rate can mean taking a walk, dancing, or gardening.
Check out YouTube for loads of free exercise videos.
Find something you enjoy and move that body of yours. The movement will help circulate blood flow in your body, which can help diminish those annoying aches and pains and start to build muscle. When you have more muscle, you can burn more fat.
Not only that but exercise releases endorphins which can in turn help elevate your mood, not to mention keep your body in shape.
3. Get Quiet
It’s important to take time to be still. This isn’t the stillness that comes between one TV show ending and another beginning.
This is scheduled time, or spontaneous, sitting quietly.
Why would you need to sit quietly? When you slow down and breathe, you’re more connected to your body. When you’re connected to your body, you’re not spinning out in your head and thoughts.
Sitting still, breathing, and/or meditating can in fact bring you greater clarity on any problems you may be struggling to solve. You can listen to yourself, remove the external noise, and make a decision from a place of calm, instead of chaos.
If you need help beginning a meditation practice, I have a great overview here.
4. Be Kind
Be kind to yourself and others. You may not be happy with the slump you’ve fallen into, but be gentle with yourself as you’re trying to get your health back on track.
These have been extraordinary times. Our routines have gone out the window so don’t beat yourself up for not being where you once were.
Instead, treat yourself with kid gloves as you begin to take steps to rebuild your healthy habits.
You may have thousands of thoughts each day about the things you “should” be doing instead of nothing. Give yourself permission to take breaks when you need them without judgment. Then after you’ve taken a break, revisit one of these ideas to get your health back on track.
5. Accountability
If you’ve fallen into a health slump, it can be hard to find the motivation within to get yourself back on track. Here’s where an accountability buddy can be helpful.
Grab a willing friend, spouse, sibling, or child to start putting healthier habits in place together. Having someone hold you accountable can go a long way in creating change. It’s also bonus connection time, which is beneficial for your health.
As a Certified Health Coach and Meditation Teacher, I work with women one-on-one to release weight in their minds and body. We put together a plan to nourish all parts of the body so you’re eating for energy and creating calm for balance.
If you’re interested in learning more, read here, and set-up a free discovery call.
