Spring into Health! – by Juli Madacey

by | May 1, 2015 | Members have their say | 0 comments

In springtime many of us look at our state of health and fitness and decide it’s time to make some changes – to “spring clean” our bodies and our routines, in a manner of speaking.  A question I’m frequently asked is, “What is the easiest and fastest way to improve my health and get into shape for summer?”  Unfortunately, there is no right answer.  Health is a journey, and while that sounds a bit trite, it couldn’t be any truer.  Our bodies, our emotions, and our external environments are constantly changing, so health isn’t something we can just work at once and be finished. The good news is that once you’ve developed some simple healthy habits, the journey becomes easier.Whether you want to improve your health, your fitness level, or lose weight, my mantra is, “Do ONE thing!”  We all generally understand what is healthy and what isn’t (and if you don’t, I’ll be happy to chat with you!).  The reason we ultimately fail is that we try to make too many changes all at once.  We wake up one day and decide that it’s time to start doing it all perfectly, right now!  But after a couple of weeks (or even a couple of days), we feel overwhelmed and just give up. So, in order to start some new, healthy habits, I recommend the following process:

  1. Make a list of the things you would like to change or start doing
  2. Prioritize the list
  3. Pick one thing from the list and do that for a few weeks, until it happens naturally
  4. Once you no longer have to think about #3 because it is something you automatically do, go back to your list and pick one thing to do for the next few weeks.
  5. Once you’ve incorporated #4 into your schedule then…well, repeat the process, adding in only one thing at a time.
You’ll be amazed at the progress you make and how easy it is to do, and before you know it you’ll have worked your way through the list.  There are a few other things to remember:
  1. This is YOUR list. It is subject to change based on shifting priorities and life circumstances.
  2. You may find that once you master one thing on the list, you might not even need to address some of other things because they will have already been incorporated into your routine.
  3. Discipline yourself to choose only one thing and do it consistently. And once you’ve mastered it, it’s easier to make the next change because you already know you can do it!
  4. Focus on adding good things rather than removing bad or negative things (unless something is a serious threat to your health).  By adding good, healthy habits, you may find that you don’t have to think about quitting or stopping negative ones because the good ones already will have replaced them. Focusing on positive things is easier and more beneficial in the long run.

Ultimately, you will find the pattern that works best for you.But remember that change is difficult, no matter how positive it is, so be patient. Allow yourself to make mistakes, and realise that you will have an occasional bad day. Most importantly, be gentle, kind, and forgiving with yourself. And enjoy the journey! For more information and to contact Juli Madacey please see her website:  www.evexiahealth.com

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