The holidays are HERE! Yes, that’s right, THEY ARE HERE!
How are you celebrating? Whether you are cooking, heading out of town, visiting with family, or spending a quiet day at home, you have probably thought about your plans, made the arrangements, and have already begun your preparations.
So, let’s talk pre-game prep!
With Thanksgiving in our rearview mirror, let’s take a minute to reflect. You wouldn’t wait until Thanksgiving morning to thaw the turkey or to head to the grocery store – the meal (and your stress levels) would certainly be affected – even if you managed to get everything ready, it probably wouldn’t be your best.
You also (hopefully) wouldn’t wait until the morning of a holiday party to decide who to invite, or what presents to buy for people. The same logic applies to your health and wellness goals – whether you want to try a new exercise class, create healthier habits, or improve your endurance, the level of preparation that goes into each goal can have a notable difference in your outcomes and success.
Some Helpful Preparation Tips:
- Identify the Purpose – What is your goal? Is the goal to walk a 5k? Participate in a more challenging exercise class? Is it to feel better? Meet new people? Create healthier habits? Impact your numbers (cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, blood sugar)? It’s important to identify the purpose or goals so you can measure your success and plan how you will achieve it!
- Set Yourself Up for Success – Once you know the purpose, make sure you have what you need to accomplish it. For example, you might need access to a treadmill or walking track (if it’s chilly outside) and comfortable and supportive footwear if your goal is to walk a 5k. If your goal is to participate in a more challenging exercise class, you will first need a copy of the exercise calendar!
- Review successes/opportunities – After the events or goals are over or achieved, make sure you are considering what went well, what could have gone better, and adjust for next time. Did you achieve your goals? If you did – congratulations! What was easy? What was challenging? What would you change for next time?
There are many resources and tools available to make planning for and carrying out our health and wellness goals easier. These preparation concepts can also be applied to your daily and weekly tasks to make them easier! Planning out simple things, like going to the grocery store with a list, using a to-do list for your day, or working off a schedule for the week, are easy ways to stay on track.
Reach out to your Functional Pathways Therapy Team to learn more about your fitness levels, as well as how you can prepare for success!