Today when I was at the gym I noticed a poster on the wall with a quote that read something like: Thinking of quitting? Think of why you started.
And I stopped. And I thought about it. And I realized this was well timed.
January is a time to contemplate change. To think about where we have been and where we are going. We start off with good intentions. Plans are made to change our lifestyles and be healthier. January is abuzz with all the latest diet trends, fitness centers are at their peak of membership numbers, and everyone is feeling really good.
But now we get to that half way point in January. New habits take time. The post-holiday back-to-work blues set in and real life takes over. We are busy. Life takes priority- work, family, social activities. New habits start to slide from our every day routines. Part of this is because we often jump into changes without thinking about it long term. We should be mindful of the “why”.
If you are thinking about quitting you new habits and ditching your goals for 2018, step back and think about why you decided to start in the first place. What inspired you to change? Was it for your health? Was it to feel energized? Was it to lose weight? Was it to ensure you are able to run around and chase after your kids or grandchildren? What is it that made you say to yourself you were going to commit to making a change in your lifestyle with regards to food and physical activity. If you are struggling to come up with your “why start” it may be easier to see why you have reached your “thinking of quitting” moment.
In order for changes to last long term you need to be sure those changes are being made for you. Making changes for someone else, just to make them happy, will only set you up for an easier time quitting. You have to be ready to change. You have to have your “why start”. The more meaningful success in those changes are to you, the more likely you will be to stick with it. Change isn’t easy, but knowing why you want to change will help you stay focused.
Best of luck to all sticking through January with a focus on why you started and avoiding that urge to quit!
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