It takes strength, discipline, and motivation to have a healthy lifestyle. But, once you see the positive changes in your body from mental to physical health you may be more motivated to continue with this lifestyle.
If you’ve stopped working out regularly don’t be too hard on yourself. Between illness, changes in family routines, the holidays and so much more we are busy people and making yourself a priority can be difficult.
It’s true that a break from exercise can quickly undo the health gains you made when you were regularly working out. In fact, taking a break from physical activity for as little as two weeks can result in a substantial reduction of muscle strength and mass. Research also shows it takes even longer to gain it back.
Wellness Habits to Take With You Into the New Year
Set A Goal
This can help motivate you into making exercise a lifelong habit. Make a goal that is specific, measurable, and achievable for you in the long-haul.
Find your Meaningful “Why”
This should be something deeper than just your physical appearance. For example, do you want to exercise so you can keep up with your kids or grandkids? Are you wanting exercise to help you feel more energized and productive? This will be extremely important on the hard days when you don’t feel motivated.
Make Yourself a Priority
Plug time into your calendar and treat it like a meeting you can’t cancel. It’s an important self-care strategy to reenergize and have better health overall. You will feel accomplished when you are taken care of first.
Take it Slow and Steady with Wellness
It’s crucial to start small when getting back into a workout routine. It takes several weeks to get back into your grove. You can start with a few minutes of cardio and work your way up to the recommended 30 minutes of cardio daily. Don’t forget to add in strength training, pilates, yoga or other forms of working out within your everyday cardio.
Dedicating long hours to a gym every day may not be realistic. Once in awhile, a 15 minute at home workout is far more realistic. If you have a busy schedule, find something you enjoy in shorter bursts. For example, YouTube videos are a great option for a shorter workout if you don’t have enough time to get to the gym everyday.
Find a Partner
When it comes to working out, encouragement and support can go a long way. You are less likely to miss if you have an accountability partner, and they will most likely make working out more fun. You can even view it as your social hour with a friend.
Contact Our Wellness Professionals
At IBC, we have wellness professionals that will work with you and your company to provide several opportunities to implement positive strategies within your business. We work with your employees one-on-one to help support them with their wellness goals and make sure they are on track for a successful year. Learn more about our wellness services here or call 712-277-2424 to talk to our Preventive Services Manager, Chase Funk.
The most important thing is to make a plan and stick to it. Consistency is key for long term success and a healthy 2023!
