What It Takes To Get Healthier
There are many things that play a role in getting healthier. Understanding and knowledge of what to do and why, access to nutritious food, finding a place to get adequate and safe exercise, reducing stress, and mustering up some discipline when you just don’t feel like it, all plays a role. Each of those key factors to getting healthy has multiple approaches or strategies, however, none of them matter if you don’t have one other component that is needed to get healthy – motivation!
Motivation is a psychological concept that plays a critical role in driving human behavior and achieving goals. It comes in two forms – intrinsic or internal motivation and extrinsic or external motivation. Intrinsic motivation is a personal interest or enjoyment. For example, someone who finds satisfaction in certain forms of exercise such as hiking or biking or in taking care of their body has intrinsic motivation. It can also be someone feeling more in control of one’s own health. Extrinsic motivation is more of an external reward like losing weight for a school reunion or to receive validation from others. Extrinsic motivation can also be a fear of consequences. So, which is better? They both can be valuable although for long term motivation and sustainability, intrinsic motivation is usually more important.
You may have heard people say you have to “know your why”. It is true, you do. Why do you want to get healthier? Odds are it may be an extrinsic reason you are getting started in all this and that is ok! Maybe you are afraid of some lab results you got back or maybe you fear you won’t be around to see your children or grandchildren grow up? Maybe you just want to feel better or look better in your clothes or be able to walk to the mailbox without getting out of breath? Whatever it is, “know your why”. Sometimes extrinsic motivation helps us reach a short-term goal and then we find intrinsic motivation along the way.
While you use your extrinsic motivation to get going, find ways to appreciate the intrinsic results you may experience so that you can try to build intrinsic motivation for the future. Motivation can be developed! Pay attention to how you feel when you eat healthier or how your mood is when you exercise regularly. Look for the small things you might enjoy in some of your new steps to becoming healthier. Maybe you are learning to cook more and that has you in the kitchen listening to some music you enjoy. Maybe some of your exercise is outside and that brings you joy. Spend some time trying to figure out what you enjoy in your new daily actions. When I first started trying to become healthier, years ago, I watched health documentaries for motivation. The new information I learned motivated me to do better to avoid illness and disease (extrinsic motivation) and while this is still true to a degree, this motivation has shifted more to an intrinsic motivation for me as now I am just a big nerd who loves new information and research on health promotion and disease prevention.
As you start or continue with your health journey, know that there is no such thing as perfect, and nobody makes all the healthiest choices all the time. That’s not realistic. Motivation, however, is what can help you when you face challenges and setbacks. Enhance your motivation by knowing your “why”, setting goals, allowing for positive reinforcement and every now and then reassessing your goals and motivations. Lastly, believe in yourself and your ability to reach your goals. You CAN do this. To learn more about getting healthier, or maybe for more motivation, follow me on Instagram or Subscribe with your e-mail at the bottom of any of my website pages (thehealthandwellnessnp.com) to receive the weekly blog posts and exciting upcoming announcements and information. Together, let’s transform your health!