Change or Difference.
When you want to change something in your life it often involves "stopping", particularly if it is to do with your health. However, a world full of stopping can be a grey and dull place. The want is to make changes part of your life so that you move towards doing things differently. If you drink alcohol but want to cut down, the difference might be to have a glass of wine and then a glass of water - a simple different approach.
Make an Action Plan.
People don't normally plan to fail - but you might if you fail to plan. A good approach is to make small changes to make a big difference. Starting from a position that "I want to lose weight" or "I want to be healthier" are aspirations. They need to be turned into plans! Here's one way - get S:M:A:R:T: Make your plans.
SPECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ACHIEVABLE
RELEVANT
TIME-BOUND
Lets take the aspiration "I want to lose weight" -
Specific I want to lose 5lb in 4 weeks
Measurable Use the same scales at the start and at the end of 4 weeks
Achievable losing about a 1lb a week is OK
Relevant I want to get into that dress/suit in 4 weeks
Time-bound Chose a time period when you know there will not be too many
distractions, e.g. parties, holiday
Don't give yourself a hard time if you do backslide a little - making the goal achievable over sufficient time gives you some slack. And remember, if you can stick to the plan you can repeat it and over a while get to where you want to be. It's not a matter of wishing you luck but wishing you "good planning".
When you want to change something in your life it often involves "stopping", particularly if it is to do with your health. However, a world full of stopping can be a grey and dull place. The want is to make changes part of your life so that you move towards doing things differently. If you drink alcohol but want to cut down, the difference might be to have a glass of wine and then a glass of water - a simple different approach.
Make an Action Plan.
People don't normally plan to fail - but you might if you fail to plan. A good approach is to make small changes to make a big difference. Starting from a position that "I want to lose weight" or "I want to be healthier" are aspirations. They need to be turned into plans! Here's one way - get S:M:A:R:T: Make your plans.
SPECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ACHIEVABLE
RELEVANT
TIME-BOUND
Lets take the aspiration "I want to lose weight" -
Specific I want to lose 5lb in 4 weeks
Measurable Use the same scales at the start and at the end of 4 weeks
Achievable losing about a 1lb a week is OK
Relevant I want to get into that dress/suit in 4 weeks
Time-bound Chose a time period when you know there will not be too many
distractions, e.g. parties, holiday
Don't give yourself a hard time if you do backslide a little - making the goal achievable over sufficient time gives you some slack. And remember, if you can stick to the plan you can repeat it and over a while get to where you want to be. It's not a matter of wishing you luck but wishing you "good planning".
