KICKING OVERWHELM TO THE SIDE
Life can get a hold of us...in many ways. Not necessarily in a bad way but in a busy way. Priorities change, jobs change, marital status can change, family size can change. Remember back in the day, we used to be able to just take care of ourselves? We had the time to map out our food, write down our perfect exercise routine and spend hours in the gym if we wanted to.
As we grow up, most of us no longer have that time to spend in a gym and are no longer focused solely on ourselves. This can be very beneficial in many other ways, but something will eventually give or change. It’s usually our own self care.
With that can come a few unexpected things along the way. Suddenly, the food we’ve been seemingly “getting away with” has now caught up to us. The “quick” ordering out, a glass or two of wine daily or eating on the run can add up.
Swinging our leg over a bike, running up steps by two, or just plain running can now be a chore for some. Have you found this out the hard way? Hmm...Bummer!! Just by the very nature of aging, we tend to lose our mobility and things may not move as well as they used to.
Oh man!! Overwhelm can take hold. Weight is now creeping up on us in places where it wasn’t there before! It’s now our way of life. It’s now become a habit, and not a healthy one! “What???? I thought I was different, I thought I could get away with this!! My genes are incredible, I can surpass all other things that regular people can’t!!!” Really???
Ouch...Changing can be very difficult, if not done the right way. Before you know it, overwhelm settles in and you don’t know where to begin. Kids have always come first or maybe the spouse has…either way, no time left for you. The truth of the matter is that if you haven't put your own health first over the years then chances are you may have trouble focusing on it now. It’s just not your habit. PERIOD! While all of those reasons might sound very legitimate, they’re not going to be healthy for YOU in the long run.
As one client put it, “I used my family as an excuse to not take care of myself and played the martyr. Many people have families but see the value in self-care.” Well said! Our families will always be better off if we take the time to keep ourselves healthy. We have more energy for them, more patience with them and most of all, we set a great example for them! The key is to make it a priority, if you haven’t done so already for yourself.
The good news is that studies upon studies have shown that we can actually stop a lot of the decline and yes, we can reverse many of the problems! Frankly, it can be amazing how forgiving the body can be, BUT we shouldn’t take that for granted!
So how can you change this around, while not adding more to your plate so to speak. Well, in order to succeed and to keep your success you’ll need to change ONE THING AT A TIME. Once the person realizes that something “HAS” to be done they jump into overwhelm. “Where do I begin” can be the hardest question! Many times the “dieter” takes on too many things at once because they’re fed up. This “fed up feeling” usually doesn’t last for the duration of the weight loss journey especially if too much is changing at once. So I’m going to repeat this over and over and over again until the reader gets it… ONE THING AT A TIME!!
Focusing on only ONE THING helps the person to not only feel less overwhelmed, but also allows them to concentrate on ONE THING at a time. That ONE THING will often open up many other unexpected doors for them. The ONE THING gives them a sense of accomplishment and also gives them proof that they are making progress and they can do it!! Have I said it enough? Concentrate ONLY ON ONE THING AT A TIME! Master that, then take on the next thing. This is guaranteed success and it’s the only way!! All great success stories have a common denominator in their successes, they are solely focused on ONE THING and become an expert in ONE THING!
Now that you realize the importance of ONE THING, how do you stay focused? It's the main objective RIGHT?!!
Well, we need to surround ourselves constantly with reminders as to why this ONE THING is so valuable to us. It’s easy to get distracted, but there are simple steps that you can take to keep yourself focused. For example, if your ONE THING is better health, you could:
Set reminders on your phone, every hour or two. Example...if your ONE THING is to increase water, your alarm will remind you about how many ounces you’ve committed to for that hour.
Listen to podcasts, YouTube or any audio first thing in the morning or while driving to work. It will give you motivation and remind you of the “reason” that you’re doing this. First thing in the morning is crucial… you’re setting up your mind, actions and intentions for the day. Otherwise the goals get lost. We need to constantly put our thoughts there.
JOURNAL JOURNAL JOURNAL!!! DAILY!! Even if it’s for only 5 minutes, get your thoughts on your “why” down on paper. With 60,000 thoughts roaming through our head in one day we need to send redflags to our brains that this one particular thing is important to us. (BIG MISTAKE…..Don’t assume you'll remember! Repetition is the mother of skill, so write it down daily.)
The number one reason for failure is lack of clarity. It’s not enough to just want something. Write down why you want a healthier you. What are the consequences of not reaching your goal and the benefits of obtaining it? Our lists can be endless when we really start to think about it!
Stay away from the news and any negative viewing that alters or changes your mood. Listening to this stuff over and over again is not getting any of us any further ahead, but it will increase your need for more food and alcohol! If it’s not serving a positive purpose, then leave it behind!! Stay AWAY from the triggers!
Prayer is a huge stress reliever and intention setter. Most of all, you’re not going at it alone!! Faith will get you there!! Approach your day with PEACE, Confidence and Faith that you’ll get there! Most people leave this part out!!! While it is also great to pray during the day, first thing in the morning is also crucial. Being grateful and thankful for what YOU DO HAVE sets a much needed and healthier tone for the day. It’s a happier beginning! TRY IT!!
Doing even one of these things to get started will get you going in the right direction. So... kick overwhelm to the side, handle and enjoy ONE THING at a time and literally enjoy the process.
RELAX, it’ll get done with the proper mindset!