In the Northeastern United States, where I live, the weather was almost like Spring this weekend, and now we are preparing for a snowstorm on Valentine’s Day! February weather certainly is unpredictable!
Like many people, I created some intentions for habit change for the new year. I focused on two areas: going to sleep earlier to get at least eight hours of sleep and doing some weekend meal prepping to have some healthy meals for the week ahead. Everything was going wonderfully, especially when I took off during the winter holidays. I enjoyed feeling well-rested and refreshed in the morning and seeing the sunrise! I had healthy meals throughout the week.
Then life got in the way! I put in a few extra hours of work here and there, had to attend to some other issues, and had a few more plans with friends. Before I knew it, I was almost back to my not-so-restful sleep routine, and my meal preparation was not always so consistent either.
What do we do when our best-made plans and resolutions fall by the wayside when life intervenes? I put on my coaching hat and thought of some strategies to help me regain my healthy habits.
Plan for Obstacles
First of all, anticipate obstacles and plan ahead. When you set your intentions, you can count on something unexpected happening, making it more challenging to achieve your goals. Take advantage of all that energy and enthusiasm around a new goal, and brainstorm what obstacles you might encounter and some potential solutions. When I got busier and began staying up late to compensate, I started planning out my days well before bedtime to prioritize those tasks I wanted to get done before sleep. I finished those earlier in the day so I wouldn’t be tempted to stay up to complete them. I also did my wind-down routine as consistently as I could so my body realized it was time for sleep. On those weeks when I didn’t cook healthy meals ahead of time, I came up with a few pantry meals and kept the ingredients on hand. I could put them together quickly and add a few fresh vegetables.
Take the Smallest Step
Next, if achieving your goals becomes difficult, what is the smallest step you can take that moves you in the right direction? If I’m not getting to bed by my planned time, can I make sure I get to bed at least fifteen minutes earlier than usual? If I don’t have healthy meals planned ahead of time for the entire week, can I at least commit to preparing a healthy breakfast each day? Preparing a few jars of overnight oats ahead of time will ensure a nutritious breakfast is ready for you when you get up. Here are some easy and delicious recipes: Overnight Oats.
Visualize Success
Another very powerful strategy is to change your mindset around your goal. Begin to think of yourself as a person who has healthy habits. I am a person who prioritizes sleep and self-care. I am a person who plans and prepares nutritious meals. Visualize your success with your healthy habits. If you find it difficult to see yourself this way, see yourself as a person on the path to your goal.
Embrace Imperfection
Also, don’t hold yourself to a standard of perfection you might not be able to achieve. You can always try again tomorrow. Although consistency is helpful when changing habits, don’t be tempted to give up entirely when you haven’t hit your goal exactly. Just take a series of small, consistent steps, anticipate and plan for some obstacles, and give yourself some grace and forgiveness for setbacks.
You Are Worth It
