So……a new year…..some new resolutions? How about some health resolutions? Given the health crisis we are facing, if you could change one thing over the next 6 months, what would that be? And if you did change something, how would you know it was being beneficial? What would you notice? What would others notice? How would you know you were progressing up your ‘ladder of success’?!
Come on, now! You can do it! What would you like to focus on? Would it be exercise? What would be realistic for you? Walking for 10 minutes three times a day at a pace that gets you out of breath? What about taking a leaf out of the books of children all over the UK in running a mile a day – it only takes about 15 minutes?! Or how about seriously reducing your sugar intake or the amount of alcohol you drink? What is your focus going to be?
Think in a solutions focused way! You don’t have to make unrealistic goals or promises you are going to break next week. Be honest with yourself. Think about what the barriers and pitfalls might be and get prepared for them. Your inner chimp has had too much control and it’s time you lived out your values this year. (Read the Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters). What is your number one health value? Feed that value to your mind every day as you wake up and when you go to sleep, so that you can re-program your brain and get living in line with what is important to you! Two of my values for this year are that I value being active and I value feeding my body with things that benefit my health.
So, let me give you an example of how you can work this up on your own, to have goals that you can achieve. Firstly, choose the thing you want to change. So, I might say, I want to do 3 lots of 10 minutes of exercise every day. Does this feel achievable? Yes – I think so, but I won’t beat myself up on days where work is crazy or the kids are sick. But I am going to make a determined effort to ensure work does not stop me being healthy. OK, so what will I notice if I am doing more exercise? I’m going to challenge myself to make a list of 10 benefits:
1) I will be able to fit back into my favourite jeans.
2) I will feel less breathless when climbing stairs – now I challenge myself and instead of using a negative (I will feel less), I try and phrase it in a positive way – I will have more energy when I climb stairs.
3) I will have more focus in my work because I will have cleared my head with a midday walk
4) I will be more fit
5) I will be looking in better shape
6) I will have more energy to play football and other sport with my kids
7) I will feel more alive and active and I will know this because I will be breathing more easily
8) I will enjoy walking with other people and talking with them
9) I will be sleeping better
10) I will have less back ache, as I will be losing weight
Ok – so what will other people notice?
- My wife will notice I have more energy and zest for life
- My kids will notice I am playing more actively with them
- My patients will notice that I practice what I preach
- My colleagues will notice that I am more present in conversation because my head is more clear
- My friends will notice that I’m taking my health seriously
- My wife will notice I’m in better shape
- My wife will notice I’m snoring less and waking up more refreshed
- My kids will notice we start going for more walks after dinner and at weekends
- My family will notice we are spending more time together being active, no matter what the weather
- My friends will notice I am more relaxed and happy
And the next step is really simple. All I have to do is simply recognise ANY time ANY of those things happen and it will encourage me on my journey of change. The secret is this: We have to imagine another way of being, paint as much colour onto that canvas as possible and slowly watch that picture emerge in our lives as we take hold of the future we actually want. It’s not the power of positive thinking. It’s the power of acting in line with positive choices we are making. Come on! Let 2017 be the year when you made a choice and acted in line with it! Put your chimp in it’s cage, stop making your excuses and be a more healthy you!
