Transform Your Health with These Six Questions: A Practical Guide to Extreme Self-Care

In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, it’s easy to ignore our health and wellbeing. We get caught up in daily stresses, distractions, and temptations, and before we know it, we’re stuck in a bad cycle of abusing our health. We become submissive to our willpower, succumb to temptations, and end up eating what we shouldn’t, then overindulging and becoming lazy. But what does it take for us to finally say, “I need to make a dramatic change to improve my health”?

It’s not easy to admit that we’ve been winging it health-wise. We know we need to make a desperate change for the better, but often we don’t know where to start. We don’t have a plan of action to get us started or to keep us going. Have you ever tried to start a self-care regime but then ended it quickly because you let daily stresses and bad habits take over? As a procrastinator myself, I know how it is to push things off until tomorrow and then never get started.

If you’re one of the many people stuck in a bad cycle of abusing your health, you’re not alone. The good news is that you can break the cycle and make a dramatic change for the better by creating a plan ahead of time. In this article, we’ll discuss the who, what, when, where, how, and why of getting to a healthier you and offer practical tips to help you get started.

The Why of Getting to a Healthier You

The first step in making a change is to genuinely answer the question, “Why” do you want this? We all have different reasons for wanting better health, but the most common ones include weight loss, improving our fitness levels, fighting off depression or anxiety, and living a higher quality of life for ourselves and those we love.

To determine your why, think about a particular reason or a whole list of reasons that motivate you. For example, you may want to lose weight, feel more energized, or be able to keep up with the demands and stresses of daily life. Make a list of your reasons and refer back to it often to stay motivated.

The Who, What, When, Where, How of Getting to a Healthier You

Once you know your why, it’s time to create a plan for achieving your goals. Here are six questions to ask yourself:

1. Who do I want to have support me during this transition? Do I want to keep this journey to myself and do it on my own? Another “who” question could be, “Who am I doing this for?” For example, you may be doing it to enjoy your time with your first grandchild who is on the way.

2. What do I need to have on hand to help me in this process? Do I need fruit, a blender, a yoga mat, or a yoga DVD, etc.?

3. When do I plan to start this? For example, you may decide to start on your next day off to get started without stress and distractions.

4. Where do I see myself a few months from now? Do I want to be more balanced, rested, thinner, and stronger?

5. How will I go about this transition? For example, you may change your eating habits to the following… or make your exercise habits like the following… or balance your inner self by… The possibilities are endless!

6. Why am I doing this? You already answered this question in the first step, but it’s important to keep referring back to it to stay motivated.

Notes

Your answers may not be as condensed as the examples above. We all have different answers to these questions and different reasons for wanting to become healthier. Your answers and reasons may change in the future. If, or when, you get off track health-wise, refer back to these six questions and answers to get yourself started once again.

Conclusion

Making a dramatic change for the better isn’t easy, but by creating a plan ahead of time, you can achieve your goals and meet your why. Get started as soon as possible without procrastinating! Go to the grocery store to get what you need. If you’ve decided to, get support from your family and let them know you have a change in the process. Most importantly, let your reason “why” drive you through. Remember to consult with your physician if you deem it necessary. With the right mindset and a solid plan, you can turn your health around and lead a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.