A lot of people actually do know what to do when it comes to healthy choices – move more, eat better. For so many people, the tipping point is the business. In the midst of maintaining your house, taking kids where they need to go, work, how are you supposed to do yoga for an hour, chop veggies, and get 8 hours of sleep?

 

Evaluate what does matter and why?  Start with “why” – why do I want to exercise and eat better? 

I want to look better.  WHY?  

I want to feel more confident. WHY? 

I will feel in control and pursue my dreams. WHY?…

YOU CATCH THE DRIFT.

 

Identify your top priorities. 

Rocks, pebbles, and sand. 

Rocks (what gives you purpose and makes you feel most fulfilled): my husband, health, work, enough sleep. 

Pebbles (extra fun and satisfaction, not totally necessary): getting home to MN, flexibility and passion in my work, doing extra work at the gym, cooking new recipes. 

Sand (only bonuses): Netflix, Instagram, happy hour. Everyone’s rocks, pebbles, and sand will look different, but if you fill your jar with too much sand at first, there won’t be room for pebbles and rocks.

IDENTIFY WHERE YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR TIME: 

Keep a time journal. In 15 minute increments. This will reveal how your jar is ACTUALLY filled, and give you an idea of how to change it to reflect your ideal jar. Make it into a pie chart, and compare. See where you’re filling your schedule with sand, making it appear like you don’t have time for your rocks.

FILL THE HOLES IN YOUR GAME :

Once you know where the discrepancies lie, start adding in healthy behaviors by 15 minutes. That could mean 15 minutes less TV, and 15 minutes more of meal prep. Even going to the gym for just 15 minutes is better than not going at all. Or taking a 15 minute walk.

IMPROVE YOUR SYSTEMS:

This means just doing some extra work on the front end to make your life easier. Work chopping up a veggie into your morning routine, join a gym that’s close to your house or work, instead of going out for drinks with your friend, see if they’d be willing to go for a walk.

Schedule in meal prep and working out. 

If you wait until you feel like doing it, you probably never will. Schedule it and stick to it like you would a meeting or your kid’s practice.

WHAT WORKED? WHAT DIDN’T ?

At the end of the week, review and see what worked and what’s worth improving. Keep doing the good stuff. If it didn’t work, what got in the way? Combine those activities with health and fitness things. If it’s sand that got in the way, watch TV while on the treadmill or meal prepping. If it’s a rock, take work calls outside on a walk, have your family help with meal prep. It’s okay to set smaller goals and build them up as you go.