Master the art of resetting to get your health back on track.
Have you noticed that your cell phone shuts down every so often to carry a full software update? And when you turn it back on, it works faster with several new features that improve its performance. Just like technology, we as humans also need this downtime to self-optimize: a brief period to rest, recalibrate, and ultimately, boost our health and wellbeing.
The truth is, motivation and energy levels fluctuate and we can’t always be our best selves—it’s a part of life. Striving for perfection all the time can leave us feeling even more stuck than we were before. And when we don’t live up to the unrealistic expectations we set ourselves, we often end up getting sidetracked, discouraged, or bogged down about it all.
It’s a slippery slope too. When we “fail” at something, it’s human nature to lose motivation and revert back to unhealthy habits. Moments of weakness turn into days, weeks, and even months of self-destruction, and before you know it, you’re stuck in a rut with no idea how to get out.
That’s when it’s time to hit the reset button on your health. So, if you’re wondering what plan of action to take after you’ve over-indulged, broken your fitness routine, neglected self-care, and had one too many late nights—follow these tips to reset your mind and body.
Reframe your thoughts
During an initial resting period, take time to really think about what you want from the future. Spend time visualizing your dream, including how you’ll feel when you have the life you want. In other words, start by thinking about the big picture then gradually work out more details.
It’s also important not to let setbacks dampen your motivation. Accept them, forgive yourself, and reframe them in a positive light. For example, when you’ve ended up staying up later than you had planned, use this as motivation to go to bed early the next night and beyond!
Learn to let go
Letting go of things that don’t align with your current path will eliminate obstacles getting in the way of you being your best self. Examples include people, possessions, habits, commitments, beliefs, or even goals. Even though this may seem slightly ruthless, the brief and transient nature of life means that we should do what’s best for us in the present.
Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals
S.M.A.R.T. stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. They provide a sense of direction, motivation, and a clear focus, as well as clarify their degree of importance. No matter how small they may be, setting goals will help guide you toward future success. For example, if your goal is to improve sleep, some steps you could take to achieve this may be setting a bedtime alarm and putting away electronics two hours before bed.
Do a fitness challenge
Workout challenges can be just what you need to reignite your motivation when routines start to slip. Often spanning 30 days and offering a progressive exercise plan, their short length means you’re less likely to be overwhelmed by the end result. And if you’re wondering, how long does it takes to form a habit?—science says it takes 66 days, so you’ll be halfway there!
What’s more, their intensive nature means you are likely to feel different within a week or so. As soon as you start to feel lighter and more energized, these positive changes signal your brain to keep going! And not to mention the team spirit and healthy competition that comes as a part of running a race or the #30daysquatchallenge will supercharge your motivation!
Carry out a healthy detox
The best way to kickstart your whole body reset? I’ve got one word for you: detox. I’m not talking about unhealthy juice cleanses and restrictive regimens. I’m referring to a short-term diet that will allow your body to “unclog” the build-up of toxins and repair its tissues and organs.
A healthy detox includes exclusively eating organic whole foods that are loaded with antioxidants. This also entails cutting out dairy, gluten, yeast, and conventionally-produced animal products, as they aggravate the gut lining and overtax the immune and liver functions. You can learn more about how to detox your body in my Detox 101 blog post.
Take a break from alcohol
A full body reset also includes cutting out one of America’s favorite activities: drinking. Alcohol dependence over time (even if it’s moderate) can wreak havoc on our liver, gut, and mental health, so going sober for prolonged periods can give your detox organs the break they need.
While there are countless mental and physical benefits of detox from alcohol, the main benefit of the likes of Dry January is that it gives your mind and body the respite needed to reset your “relationship” with drinking, paralleling healthy behaviors like sleeping better, eating well, and exercising more.
Keep tabs on your health
It’s a fact: Quantifying your health boosts your quality of life. From counting steps and heartbeats to measuring blood sugar levels and your quality of sleep—there is a tracker to measure every metric of health, and they help us stay accountable for our wellbeing.
Provided that you take action based on the data they collect, these wearable devices are an effective way to boost health. Whether that means integrating more movement into your day, cutting out a certain food from your diet, or getting more hours of sleep, they encourage you to make lifestyle changes that ultimately increase your chances of being fit, happy, and healthy.