We all know life has its ups and downs, and its easy when we’re feeling down, to go off the deep end when it comes to healthy habits. Skip the workout and have ice-cream instead? Pizza? Why not. We all fall off the band wagon sometimes, but the trick is knowing how to snap back quick and do better next time.
Here are a few things to add to your magic pack that can help ward off those negative vibes next time they come around. What works for one person might not work for another, so give each one a try until you find what works for you.
1 Do something different
Sounds simple enough right? But seriously, do something different. If you can’t get your mind out of the gutter of negativity, sometimes just changing your surrounds can make a huge difference. Go for a walk. Listen to some upbeat music. Go for a drive. Workout, even if its only for 5 or 10 minutes. Call a friend or family member and see how they’re doing. Sometimes just talking to someone else can make you realize how good life is.
2 Surround Yourself with Positive influences
You’ve heard the saying before, you’re only as good as the company you keep. If you surround yourself with people who are positive, you’re much more likely to be the same. I mean, who really wants to be the Debbie downer of the group? This holds true when making decisions about your health to. If you surround yourself with others who are trying to make the same healthy positive choices, it’ll be much easier to stay that way yourself.
3 Smile
Again, another seemingly simple solution that can really work. When you’re feeling down in the dumps, make yourself smile. Even if you don’t mean it. Studies show that a bad mood can be turned around just by the act of smiling. Somebody say “Cheese”!
4 Visualize your Goal
Think about the things you wish to accomplish and then put them into reality in your head. Picture yourself crossing the finish line of the marathon you’re signing up for next week. Watch yourself sweeping the pack in the mini triathlon your training for. Picture yourself getting out of bed at 5:00am, or putting on your running shoes right after work to go for a run. Consider what it will be like to be the size, shape and physical health you want to be in.
Research has shown that visualization can improve a persons performance. The more you embrace the idea, the more likely it is to come true!
5 Talk Kindly to Yourself
No, you’re not the only one who converses with themselves, and since you’re the only one inside that great head of yours, it’s best your tell it good things. No doubt about it, negative thinking makes a tough situation even worse. Try finding a few phrases you can tell yourself when you start feeling down in the dumps. For instance. “Smile” or “I’m so lucky”, “Today is a great day”, or “I feel good”. Even if you don’t necessarily feel those things at the moment, if you keep repeating them, after awhile they’re bound to sink in.