3 Tips to Stay Consistent

Everyone can relate to struggling with consistency. When I first started my weight loss journey, I struggled to stick to my nutrition, workouts, and mental health goals, all while managing a full-time job and life obligations. And no wonder! Changing your lifestyle can be overwhelming when your to-do list is already a mile long. But don't fear, there are some simple strategies you can employ to stay consistent. Here are 3 tips to stay consistent so you can slay your goals:

1. Create 2-3 routines depending on your mood: People often make the mistake of creating a routine while they feel motivated, but then feel defeated when they struggle to follow it on a day when they are busy or tired. Instead, have a backup routine!

   
   

   For example, on a good day, my routine is a 4-mile walk in the morning and either an hour of martial arts or weightlifting later in the day. But on a day like today, when my body isn't up for that level of activity, I just do the walk and some yoga. This is still moving me towards my health goals, but it's much less taxing. Or instead of trying to muster the energy to cook dinner after a long day, I have some healthy frozen options or a healthy take-out option available in order to stay on track.

   
   

   You will never have the same level of energy every day, so give yourself a long leash on your habits. Those backup routines are more important, so stay realistic about your capacity and congratulate yourself on taking the small steps as well as the big ones!

   

2. Just do 5 minutes: If you are having a mental block at completing a health-related task, promise yourself that you are just going to do 5 minutes, and then you can stop if you want to, judgment-free.

   
   

   For example, if you don't feel like meal prepping, spend 5 minutes scheduling out meals for the week. If you don't feel like working out, spend 5 minutes doing some light warm-up moves or go for a short walk to the mailbox. If you don't feel like doing a meditation, set a 5-minute timer and sit quietly without your devices. Chances are, after starting, you'll feel like doing more, and if not, who cares? You got one step further to your goals, even when you didn't feel like it, and that warrants celebration!

   

3. Remember your "WHY": If you have a solid why, you can survive any "how". Your "why" is your reason for starting in the first place. It is the deeper meaning behind your actions, and it is typically aligned with your values.

   
   

   For example, your why could be that you want to be a role model for your kids or that you want to feel confident in your body again so you can do your favorite activities without fear. Your "why" is unchanging and speaks to who you are as a person. If it helps, keep reminders of your "why" everywhere. Make it your phone background, your screen saver, put it on post-its around your house, say it as an affirmation when you are feeling down. Think of it as reprogramming your mind to more easily accept the new reality of your life because lifestyle change is forever.

   
   

   If you like these 3 tips to stay consistent, make sure to like this blog post and leave a comment! You are doing an amazing job just by showing up to read this.

   
   

   Best in Health,

   Coach Nai