Everything in your life should have a healthy balance, from what you eat to your workouts and how much sleep you get. The best part about this is that when you improve one area of your health, other areas tend to follow. This is known as compound habits. The idea is to improve one area in your life and once it becomes a habit, move on to the next area to improve. Motivation and self-reliance are key when fostering new habits.  

Helpful Tips for Creating a Healthy Balance

Get Rid of Unnecessary Restrictions 

This is a big one, and something people often don’t realize is a problem. If you try to take away too many things from your life, especially from your diet, you are going to become burned out by it, feel like you are missing out, and will end up caving anyway. You can prevent this by instead just not having so many restrictions. These can be in very small ways that you didn’t realize you were trying to restrict, like always buying sugar-free or fat-free items from the grocery store, or never allowing yourself to go to sleep without doing your workout. This can seem like you are just being committed, but when it becomes stressful or you miss out on life, it might not be worth it. Balance is about being flexible and adjusting things when needed. 

 Stay Consistent When Possible  

When you are developing a healthy lifestyle, the number one best thing you can do is be consistent. This doesn’t mean sticking to a strict schedule 7 days a week that you never waver from, but instead just working on building habits that you will be able to stick to long-term. 

What habits can you be consistent with right now? If you don’t think you can cook every meal of the day 7 days a week, just aim for cooking your dinners from home 5-6 nights a week. This might feel a little more realistic and something you can keep up with. 

 Think of Your Goals in the Long-Term 

A good way to be more consistent is to set realistic goals and think of them in the long-term. If everything is about losing 20 lbs in 2 months or trying to achieve something by a specific date, you have no reason to continue with those habits after the short-term goal has been achieved.  

Every time you add a new healthy habit, think about it in the long-term. Make sure it is realistic, something you enjoy, that benefits you, and that you will keep doing many years down the line. 

 Aging Well Requires Balance 

Focusing on healthy balances ensures that our minds and bodies stay healthy. If we constantly hold on to setbacks or what if’s, we lose the opportunity to embrace the good that comes our way. As stated earlier, think long-term. What you are doing right now will either help or hurt your aging gracefully goals. Focus on small changes at a time. Cut back on dairy, switch to paraben-free shampoo, or take a short walk every day. Whatever healthy choice you make will benefit you in ways you cannot even imagine! And it creates a ripple effect that encourages you to keep going with maintaining a healthy balance.  

Ready to start with positive change? Read “Attitude of Youth” for ways to improve areas in your life.