Does it feel uncomfortable to discuss healthy goal setting during COVID-19?

This is an extraordinary event, nothing like anything we have experienced in our lifetime and it’s currently a little hard to imagine what life will look like beyond today.

Let’s face it, health is currently front of mind.

Everything that we currently do, the decisions the government are currently making and why we are practicing physical or social distancing is completely and whole-heartedly based on our health and well-being.

The changes may feel isolating or for some it may feel like an opportunity to retreat.

How can your life improve on the other side of COVID-19?

If nothing else, it is an opportunity to reflect on what you value, your priorities, your family and maybe your health, not just for today or avoiding getting the virus, but your general health and well-being and living your best life.

With the massive changes to our current way of life, this pause button on our social life and for some people, work, education or other priorities may provide the space to make some long term lifestyle changes.

Impact of an Acute Medical Crisis

In clinic, I see you (my patients) at times face acute serious illness and the hard hitting impact this can have.

It provides a sudden jolt of intense commitment to making big changes to your lifestyle, your health and what you value.

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness appears to have less of an impact

When you are diagnosed with a chronic medical condition (often lifestyle induced) it just doesn’t have the same impact.

For some reason, people just don’t jump to change in the same way.

There are different reasons for this.

1. Firstly, the changes that people feel are often more of a slow decline.
2. It is almost imperceptible, maybe feels inevitable.
3. Or maybe it is the fact that the condition won’t kill you today and most likely not tomorrow.
4. You don’t feel time pressure to take action.
5. There is the ability to put it off, to make excuses.

Maybe you will start next week, next month, next year, definitely not today.

But the fact is, today is all we ever really have.

You can remember the past or dream about future.

We can only take action in the present.

So what action can you take today to make an impact on your health?

The 5 Keys To Health Goal Success include:

• Specific clarity of your goal and write it down.
• Know why this goal is important to you, it should give you goosebumps, or at least an emotional response.
• Think about how you can make your plan a reality – include visualization.
• Make a clear plan – break it down.
• Identify and focus on your micro habits.

It doesn’t matter what type of health goal you want to set, these tools will be of assistance with:

• Weight loss
• Quit smoking
• Exercise
• Sleep
• Stress Management
• Improving your Lifestyle

Watch our latest presentation “Healthy Goals During COVID-19: 5 Keys to Success” or  enjoy our post on Who Do You Want To Be During Covid-19?