For many people, staying consistent can be challenging when it comes to attaining better health and sticking with treatment plans. Even if we know exactly what we need to do, prioritizing our health and taking action on a regular basis may prove to be difficult in the long-run. That’s because consistency can be hard, especially when work, family demands, and unexpected life events get in our way. Without the proper approach, it is common to let our health and wellness take a lower priority so we can deal with other challenges and demands that show up in our daily lives.
As you can imagine, ignoring our wellness needs can lead to serious health problems down the road. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be our reality. Consistency with our health doesn’t mean perfection. It simply needs a realistic approach that incorporates good habits, flexibility, and support. Keep reading to learn more about how to stay on track with healthy habits and treatment plans!
Know Your “Why”
Before getting started with any health plans you have, make sure to understand why these plans matter in the first place. What will happen if you don’t take action to improve your health today? What are you hoping to achieve over time? Perhaps you would like to run a marathon someday. Maybe you want to be around for your grandchildren and be healthy enough to play with them easily.
If you have a specific treatment plan for a health condition, make sure you understand specific details. For example, why was a certain medication prescribed? How long do you need to take it, and what happens if you skip a dose? Get familiar with any potential side effects from your medication and make sure to talk to your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have. Gaining clarity helps remove roadblocks and makes it more likely that you’ll take action on a regular basis.
Prioritize Consistency Not Perfection
You may be surprised to know that consistency is more about implementing small repeatable habits than it is about being perfect. You don’t need to do every single thing to its fullest potential to achieve consistency. For example, try to take your medication most days to build up the habit. Start an active lifestyle by moving a few times a week instead of expecting yourself to do it every single day.
For nutrition, improve your meals gradually by changing out a few ingredients at a time. This approach can be far more effective than aiming for perfection and giving up when it isn’t achieved. Aim for goals that realistically fit into your daily life, and progress that you can maintain in the long-run.
For example, can you attach a healthy habit to an existing routine in your life? This may look like:
- Taking medication with your morning meal or coffee
- Stretching or walking in place while watching TV at night
- Adding some vegetables into your favorite regular meals
- Catching up with loved ones during an evening walk
Have Plans for Low Will Power Days
Let’s face it, some days you simply may not have the motivation or will power to do what you need to do. The truth is that motivation is not something that can be relied up on when trying to build consistency and good habits. Instead, focus on creating systems around your important health plans and goals. For example, ensuring your medication is kept in a safe and visible location can make it easier to take it. Pill organizers and medication reminders from your phone can also help.
Making plans with others to go for a walk or exercise can also make it easier to stay consistent. With the support of others, you don’t have to do everything alone. Prepare meals ahead of time with your family to ensure nutritious food is always available with ease. When visiting your healthcare provider, schedule future appointments right away to avoid having to do so later on. By making healthy decisions easier to accomplish, we can build consistency over time.
Build Progress Not Just Results
Sometimes, it can take time for results to show up. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t making meaningful progress. Take the time to celebrate small wins as you want for your health metrics, symptoms, and energy levels to improve in the long-run. For example, small wins in your daily life may look like:
- Being active one or two more days a week
- Taking your medication 75% of the time instead of 50%
- Calling your doctor with a question about your plan
- Filling up your water bottle a little more often
- Stretching at your desk during work hours
By recognizing small wins, you help take pressure off yourself and feel good about your efforts. Over time, these small wins build the momentum needed to create consistency with our health plans and goals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, staying consistent with healthy habits and treatment plans is all about being flexible, realistic, persistent, and supported. Instead of aiming for perfection, take small consistent steps to build momentum and establish healthy lifestyle patterns. Reach out to your healthcare providers, family, and friends to help you reach your goals.
If your original approach isn’t working, don’t be afraid to make adjustments and change things up whenever needed. Remember, motivation levels will naturally rise and fall over time, but having the right systems in place can make all the difference when trying to be consistently healthy.