“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”
--Mae West
We all drift - or at least most of us do. Maintaining healthy habits, year-round, day in and day out, can be a real challenge. Whether it is eating healthy, working out regularly or even flossing or getting regular checkups, a lot of "drifting" takes place.
This is especially true in the first few months of the new year. We've all made our New Year's resolutions, and then reality sets in. Work, travel, family - all can potentially derail the best intentions. Or perhaps we've just raised the bar too high. Either way, you find yourself heading in the wrong direction.
Don't panic. It's easier to get back on track than you might think.
First, remember that you might not be able to do the right thing all of the time, but you should be able to most of the time. So give yourself a break.
Think of your car’s GPS. If you make a wrong turn, it quickly recalculates things and sets you in the right direction. It constantly works to keep you on track. One of the keys is its internal flexibility. It seeks multiple options to get the task done, never giving up. The other key is how it has been programmed.
Create for yourself an internal GPS based on core principles, and both long and short term health goals and objectives. This will then guide the health habits that you subsequently develop. It will create the internal software for your personal health GPS system.
You'll have your daily and weekly routines, and when all is well, and life is smooth and uninterrupted, stick with them as usual. But when life's circumstances throw you a curve ball, you will, like your car GPS, have the ability to adjust and thrive, rather than abort and fail.
Hungry and no healthy options in sight - look again. Even Starbucks has a terrific fresh yogurt, fruit and granola option. Gridlocked at the airport - take a nice walk around the terminal rather than sitting around and eating junk snacks. Missing that work-out because of important time spent with children and/or family - find an activity that keeps you all active and moving - go to the playground, take a nature walk, ice skate, or even go bowling. It keeps you active, rather than sedentary, and even creates good lifelong habits and priorities for those around you.
I'm not saying that it's easy or possible all the time, but it's easier than you may think- if you stay flexible and look for ways. Just like your car’s GPS.
FitTip: Don't be so hard on yourself when you drift- just turn on your GPS and get back on track. But remember to enjoy the ride, and be ready for more speed bumps and roadblocks along the way.