Simple Steps to Kickstart your Wellness Journey Right Now

I get it. Every time you get in a mood to change your life on a random Tuesday at 11 p.m. at night, the next day you're back to old habits. We’ve all been there, we all want what's best for us, but sometimes we overestimate our capacity for sudden change.

Sustainable change is a process; it's intentional, purposeful, a conscious decision. A runner does not spontaneously run a marathon and do well. A baby does not begin to walk fresh out of the womb. An athlete does not win a championship without months, sometimes years, of training. Hopefully, by now you have gotten the point. We recognize the slow cooker approach to change in many external things but rarely ourselves.

This post is intended for you to develop a system for you to thrive, not just dream. A dream does not come into fruition by faith alone; you must put in the work as well (James 2:26). What is one area of your health and wellness that you want to improve upon in the next 3 months? Is it your sugar cravings that always seem to kick in at night? Is it a better sleep routine so you don’t find yourself doom scrolling on social media before bed? Whatever it is, it is going to require you to take a firm look at yourself and say, “Hey, I really need to get my stuff together.” If you weren't ready for change, you likely wouldn't have made it this far in the post. Something is intriguing you to continue reading, and that’s step 2 in this process. What’s the deeper reason that makes you want this change in your life? Are those sugar cravings making you feel more bloated, which in turn makes you feel less confident in your body? Are you in a constant cycle of saying you’ll go to bed earlier, yet it never happens? How does that make you feel? Why is it important for you to make the change? Whatever it may be, lean into this. There’s always a deeper reason as to why we seek out something. 

homemade smoothie bowl

So far we have: 1. Identifying ONE area of improvement. I know it is tempting to add onto this, but start small, love. We will add on to this later once you have gotten into a flow state. 2. Acknowledging the deeper reason why this change is important for you. If you don't have a reason, I can guarantee you won't be as motivated to continue the path when you encounter hurdles. Speaking of flow state, the third step is developing a system that nurtures this change. No matter how you try to spin the block, if you don't have a system in place, it is very easy to return to old ways.

Examples of a system include our nutrition. Most people say, “I want to eat healthier,” but your pantry and refrigerator are not supportive of this goal. A system built around this goal is having healthy snacks readily available for when cravings arise. Planning your meals in advance instead of relying on your mood to dictate what you eat throughout the week. Notice I said planning your meals instead of meal prep. Meal prep doesn’t work for everyone, but what does work is having a plan and system in place that works for YOU and supports your change. A system ensures flexibility, small consistent change instead of striving for constant perfection. 

Alright, now that we have identified our three pillars for kick-starting our wellness journey, let's discuss tangible, actionable steps you can take right now to support our goals. For this next part, you will need approximately 15 minutes, a journal, or the notes app on your phone. 

1. Identifying one area of improvement: 

   1. Set a 5-minute timer to reflect on what you want this change to be. Jot it down in your notes app or journal. 

2. Acknowledge the deeper reason why this is important to you. 

   1. Set another timer for 5 minutes (you may need longer, but start small). Reflect on how you currently feel about the challenges arising from this problem. 

3. Brainstorm a system around your problem. 

   1. Example: Joining a gym. Dedicate 20 minutes to researching gyms near you. Make a note to call and inquire about membership. 

   2. Better nutrition: Identify current pitfalls and slowly work your way to a system that combats them. 

Things to be mindful of: Embracing imperfection and mindset. How you speak to yourself is crucial in your successes or failures. There will be challenges; this is just a hard fact. But you can do hard things, you can overcome any challenge. Be realistic with yourself. There is no magic pill or quick fix to success. Give yourself enough grace and time to master a system that works for you. Just don't give up. As time moves on, you are more than welcome to add onto this, just start.

freshly made carrot & orange juice