The weight management journey isn’t easy – and for many of us, procrastination is a big hurdle to reaching our weight and health goals.
How do you know if you’re procrastinating? Chances are, you’re probably aware. But just for a moment, imagine yourself in the middle of a sports game like soccer or basketball. You clearly have a goal to get to — whether it’s the soccer goal or the basketball hoop. But instead of getting the ball closer and closer to that goal, you spend time dribbling or batting the ball around the field/court. You’re avoiding the most important task at hand – and for all intents and purposes, that task is your weight management journey.
Don’t Let Procrastination Get in Your Way
Is procrastination getting in the way of you reaching your goals? Maybe it’s time to rethink your strategy toward improved weight and health. Consider these tips for gaining a proactive mindset and action plan.
Set Realistic Goals
Don’t blow your “to do” list out of proportion. Your goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-based. Try taking small steps at a time and then improving upon those steps until your bigger goals are reached.
Focus on Your “Why”
Managing your weight shouldn’t feel like a chore. Think about why you’re on the weight management journey to begin with – to improve your health! Maybe you want to be able to spend more time playing with your children, or perhaps you want to feel better so you can do better at your job and in your daily life. Think about the reason you started this journey to begin with.
Reward Yourself for Positive Behavior
You don’t always have to reward yourself with food. If you’ve hit your goals for the week or month, maybe you’d like to treat yourself to a nice movie, new article of clothing or even a mini vacation. You put in the work… you earned it!
Break Down Your Tasks
If you have larger goals in mind, such as achieving 150-200 minutes of physical activity per week, try to think deeper than the bigger picture. For example, break down that task into 30-40 minutes of exercise a day. And if that sounds like too much to do at one time, try breaking down those minutes into 15-20 minutes in the morning and in the evening.
Keep Track of How You Spend Your Time
If procrastination is an issue in your life, you may want to consider a journal that keeps track of how you spend your time. That way, you stay accountable with yourself and have the ability to recognize when you need a change of pace.
Everyone procrastinates at one time or another. The trick is to not let procrastination get the best of you… get the best of IT!
