If you’re working on getting healthier, you might have a lot of things that you want to do, get enough sleep, work out regularly and change what you eat. However, there are also plenty of things you should avoid. Many other people have made the mistakes below and learned from them so you don’t have to.
Forgetting Moderation
It can be tempting to fall into a mindset that more is always better—more exercise, more diligent calorie counting, more effort all around. The problem with this approach is that it isn’t sustainable. If you’re going to truly make some life changes, they need to be things that work for you all the time, not just for the first week or two when you’re feeling great about your new life plan. This means allowing yourself some flexibility to do things that you enjoy. If baking is your life, you don’t have to give up sweets forever. If you enjoy vaping, you can allow yourself to make a new purchase for convenience or travel. You can look over a selection online to choose vaporizer that you like.
Not Taking Days Off
Overtraining can lead to getting discouraged and quitting. It can also lead to injury. What constitutes overtraining will vary depending on the exercise you are doing, your fitness level and your age, among other factors, but even elite athletes take some days off. If you’re just beginning to exercise, start slow, and consider working with a personal trainer if you tend to overdo it or you just aren’t sure what pace is right for you. Maybe you won’t be making huge gains all at once, but you’ll be doing something you can keep up for years to come.
Lack of Balance
Another mistake is overemphasizing one area in favor of another. For example, maybe you are focused on food and exercise but you aren’t attending to your mental and emotional wellbeing. The practice of mindfulness makes you healthier and implementing it into your routine is essential. No one can be 100% balanced all the time but be sure that you don’t neglect all the things that you need to feel better and get healthier. If you’re still struggling with balance, talking a counselor or life coach may help you get your goals and daily habits into better alignment.
Not Going Outside
It can be easy to find yourself going from home to work to the gym to the store and then home again, with your only periods of time outdoors when you walk from your car to the next place you need to be. Getting some natural light and spending time in nature is good for you both physically and emotionally. Depending on where you live, it might not be feasible to spend much time outside all year round, but make an effort to get outdoors when you can.
Not Building Strong Relationships
As important as the food you eat and the exercise you do are the relationships that you build with others. You don’t need a huge circle of friends, but you do need regular friendly interaction with others. Hobby groups and classes can be a great way to meet new people.
