6.4 Fostering Wellness in Your Life

Once again, you feel motivated to eat better, exercise more, drink less caffeine, or make any positive lifestyle changes you have been telling yourself you want to make. You have tried before—probably declaring another attempt as a New Year’s resolution—but without experiencing much success. Making a lifestyle change is challenging, especially when you want to transform many things simultaneously. This time, think of those changes not as a resolution but as an evolution.

Lifestyle changes are a process that takes time and requires support. Once you are ready to make a change, the difficult part is committing and following through. So, do your research and make a plan that will prepare you for success. Careful planning means setting small goals and taking things one step at a time.

Here are five tips from the American Psychological Association (APA) that will assist you in making lasting, positive lifestyle and behaviour changes:

Make a plan that will stick.

Your plan is a map that will guide you on this journey of change. You can even think of it as an adventure. When making your plan, be specific. Want to exercise more? Detail the time of day when you can take walks and how long you will walk. Write everything down, and ask yourself if you are confident that these activities and goals are realistic. If not, start with smaller steps. Post your plan where you will most often see it as a reminder.

Start small.

After you’ve identified realistic short-term and long-term goals, break down your goals into small, manageable steps that are specifically defined and can be measured. Is your long-term goal to lose 20 pounds within the next five months? A good weekly goal would be to lose one pound a week. If you want to eat healthier, consider replacing dessert with a healthier option, like fruit or yogurt, as a goal for the week. At the end of the week, you will feel successful knowing you met your goal.

Change one behaviour at a time.

Unhealthy behaviours develop over time, so replacing unhealthy behaviours with healthy ones requires time. Many people run into problems when they try to change too much too fast. Focus on one goal or change at a time to improve your success. As new healthy behaviours become a habit, try to add another goal that works toward the overall change you strive for.

Involve a buddy.

Whether it be a friend, co-worker or family member, someone else on your journey will keep you motivated and accountable. Perhaps it can be someone who will go to the gym with you or someone who is also trying to stop smoking. Talk about what you are doing. Consider joining a support group. Having someone to share your struggles and successes makes the work easier and the mission less intimidating.

Ask for support.

Accepting help from those who care about you and will listen strengthens your resilience and commitment. If you feel overwhelmed or unable to meet your goals, consider seeking help from a psychologist. Psychologists are uniquely trained to understand the connection between the mind and body and the factors that promote behaviour change. Asking for help does not mean a lifetime of therapy; even just a few sessions can help you examine and set attainable goals or address the emotional issues that may be getting in your way.

“Fostering Wellness in Your Life” from Fitness for Paramedics: A Guide for Students at Cambrian College Copyright © 2019 by Dawn Markell and Diane Peterson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.