How To Overcome Obstacles to Better Health
As I’ve grown older, I have come to realize how valuable good health is. I think everyone wants to be healthy and feel good in their own skin. But for some reason, it’s hard to invest in your own health. I think this is because there are so many real obstacles that feel so huge to us when we try to forge a new path to a healthier version of ourselves. But I want to tell you that those obstacles do not define you, and they are not insurmountable. In this post, I’ve outlined four of the major obstacles to better health and some suggestions for ways you can overcome them.
*Note: I am not a physician or health coach. Always consult your personal medical professionals before making any major changes in your health regimens, diets, or exercise plans.
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Motivation
Having motivation to change is hard, and honestly, if this is one of the obstacles you face, you have to tackle it first. If you don’t feel motivated, you have to change your mindset, and that’s really difficult. If you have trouble motivating yourself to eat better, exercise more, avoid bad habits, or embrace good ones, here are some suggestions.
- Make progress your goal, and give yourself grace to take your time. The ultimate goal shouldn’t be a number of pounds or inches, it should be growth. It should be just working to be more who you want to be. And if that takes time, that’s okay. Give yourself credit for every little piece of progress.
- Surround yourself with positivity. If the narrative in your head is that you are out of shape, or overweight, or unhealthy, or defeated, or whatever negative adjectives you tell yourself, stop. Say instead, “I’m growing.” Say “I’m worth it and I’m investing in myself.” Or say “It might be hard, but I can do this.” Print out quotes that inspire you and cover your space with them. Start every day with positive self talk in the mirror. Ask a friend or family member to tell you what you know you need to hear every day. If you feel like this is an issue for you, check out this article from Healthline to learn more about Positive Self Talk.
- Write out your plan and document your health journey. Keep a record of what you are doing every day. This could be achieved with a journal like this one or this one. Or just use a notebook. Either way, having a plan can keep you motivated.
Time
For me, this has always been one of the biggest obstacles. Between working a full-time job, maintaining my relationships, and being a mom of three busy kids, time is something I just don’t have a lot of. If that’s you too, here are some ways to overcome that obstacle.
- Use an app to save time on planning. If you are trying to eat more healthy, I recommend Noom, WW Weight Watchers, or MyFitnessPal. These apps are all different, but can all help you develop healthier eating habits. And if you need a full meal plan, check out some of these from EatingWell. If you need to have more time to exercise, check out FitOn. It’s my favorite app I’ve ever used, and it’s got lots of amazing workouts that are quick and easy to find. And it’s free!
- Allow yourself to start small. If you can only make time to snack better but don’t have time to make your meals healthier or vice versa, start there. If you only have time to do a quick 5 minute exercise daily before bed, start there. It’s still progress. It still makes you a boss. Manage that much, and then add something else.
Physical Limitations
This one is specific to exercise. Sometimes, as much as we’d like to exercise more or be healthier, we just have physical limitations that get in the way. Maybe you have arthritis. Maybe you’ve had a joint replacement. Whatever it is, these kinds of obstacles can really make you feel helpless. And you do really have to get creative to overcome these. Here are some suggestions.
- Stationary Biking. If you’ve had joint replacements, check out this desk cycler you can use while sitting for both your feet and arms. Or buy a stationary bike or elliptical.
- Walking. This is something anyone can do. You don’t have to go far. Can’t do a mile yet? Can’t do 100 feet yet? Do what you can. Again, give yourself grace to start small. Walk around your kitchen. Walk to the mailbox. Growth is gradual. Allow it and be proud of what you can do.
- Yoga. I have loved yoga ever since I discovered it when I was pregnant with my first child. I had a really difficult pregnancy and this easy yoga routine got me through some really tough days. Even if you aren’t pregnant, it’s great if you need something that won’t make you move a lot. A friend of mine who struggles with chronic pain also recommends Yoga with Adriene.
Support
So, if you’ve overcome the obstacles of motivation, time, and any physical limitations you have, you might think you’re good to go. But there is one final obstacle that often trips people up. That is support. It’s so much easier to work toward better health when someone is holding you accountable and is on that journey with you. Here are some suggestions for finding that support.
- Make it a family thing. Honestly what helped me the most to exercise more was making it a family activity. Our kids exercise with us and it’s just part of our nightly routine. Sometimes if I’m doing something like yoga, they do it with me. Other times, the kids do an exercise specifically for kids on YouTube while my husband and I do a workout they couldn’t do in another room close by. If you want exercises for kids, I recommend Jack Hartman and Sweat Shop Kids, both on YouTube.
- Use an app or find a group online. Weight Watchers and Noom, which I mentioned earlier, are great for this. Or you could use an online health coach. Or join a Facebook group.
- Find a Health Accountability Partner. Pick someone in your life to be your motivator. It’s even better if that person is working toward a similar goal as you, but they don’t have to be. My three-year-old is actually great about asking me if I’m going to exercise today, so you really can pick anyone as long as you trust them to be consistent with you.
Overcoming that Obstacle
Overcoming any obstacle starts with one step. I encourage you today to look at that obstacle that has been stopping you and tell yourself that you are more powerful than it could ever be. And even if your health journey looks different than you planned, and even if progress takes time, let your success be what you decide it is. If you’re working toward better health, whatever you accomplish is big! Give yourself credit and give yourself grace. I hope you found something here to help you today. And if you have some wisdom for us all about how to grow toward better health, drop a comment below. Have a good day!
And check out these other posts about health and personal growth to help get you started!
Note: Content of this post belongs to Jamie @whatagoodday.com. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. I’m happy for you to share this post but be sure to link to this post. Thank you.
Excellent! i do believe in “progress not perfection”.
Me too, Kay! I think that’s so important! Thanks for your comment!
Love this Jamie!! Great advice!!