“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
~ Will Durant

Changing any set pattern of daily lifestyle is challenging. But that can be achieved with goal setting, planning, following that plan regularly, and monitoring and recording the progress. Motivation erodes if the brain does not receive frequent doses of boosting in the form of tangible outcomes. That is why recording and acknowledging, if not celebrating, even small milestones & successes is necessary.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle with proper sleep, exercise, and nutritious eating habits is one of the most challenging goals to achieve. The senses of smell, sight, and taste betray us, and our laziness takes over our better judgment. Becoming more physically active needs operational planning, practice, and follow-through.

It is said that if you can continue the practice for at least three weeks, or twenty-one days, it starts becoming your “muscle memory,” or better known as a habit. Once you have the habit of waking up early and running, walking, or practicing Yoga for 30 minutes daily, it is not easy to change that routine either.

Good and healthy habits, just like the bad and unhealthy ones, are addictive because the body and mind always find their comfort zone in doing something repeatedly. The real challenge is in breaking the current cycle of unhealthy habits and adopting a new healthy routine.

Goal Setting

Set S.M.A.R.T. goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-oriented, and Time-bound. The following seven-step process will help you in goal setting:

1. Identify a goal.
2. Learn how to achieve it
3. Divide the goal into small and specific mini-objective
4. Prepare a monitoring chart with the current state
5. Monitor and record your progress regularly
6. Adapt to changing environment
7. Enjoy the process – do not punish yourself

In the end, when you achieve your mini-goals, allow for a small celebration, and when you accomplish a bigger goal, give yourself credit, and celebrate.

Final Words

Being active and achieving a higher state of a healthy body is necessary to ward off lifestyle diseases, boost your immunity, and stay fit. A healthy body is also the vessel for a healthy mind, a healthy mindset, and a cheerful person.

People are more attracted to healthy and fit people. These individuals also tend to command more authority and usually have a great sense of humor. They motivate themselves and their family, friends, and co-workers to set small health goals and achieve them with the 30-minute for 21-day practice rule.