Maybe, you've been following September’s emails on Healthy Aging Month. Perhaps you've found this article while searching for advice on putting your wellness routine in place.
Missed them? Find a collection of tips on better sleep, faster recovery, reducing cognitive decline, and better aging here.
There's a lot of advice out there on wellness. However, what's often lacking is guidance on finding the motivation to implement it - and staying motivated.
This article is for anyone starting their wellness journey, not just older adults.
You can apply what you're about to read at any time or at any stage in your life.
What if I fail?
One of the biggest hurdles most people face when they're trying something new is the fear of failure.
And most people feel they can’t overcome the fear. It's possible.
So, let's kick off with how your fear can hold you back and what you can do to break through your fear.
It's completely normal to be anxious about trying something new. We crave safety. You've probably heard the expression, "It's better to be safe than sorry."
There are occasions where safety is important. Like working at heights or in confined spaces. Jumping out of a plane. Wearing a seatbelt while driving.
When you're thinking about going for a walk, eating better, or trying to reduce your exposure to blue light, where's the danger?
What's the worst that can happen as a result of you trying something new?
When you start something new, it can feel scary. However, the worst thing that can happen to you is, you'll be back where you were before you tried.
And you tried. You pushed yourself out of your comfort zone. If you try once, you're likely to try again.
Tip: The first step in overcoming your fear of failure is to assess and evaluate what the real risk is.
What if I don't get it right?
What if you do?
When you try new things without fear, there's a small chance they might not go as expected. And when things don't go to plan, you can feel embarrassed.
You never get to a result in a straight line. Quick wins can happen if you put the effort in, but they're usually long term. What you have to take into account is, there's always the possibility of setbacks. The likelihood of you landing back at square one.
So what?
What you might not know is, there's little embarrassment in not succeeding at something straight away. On a grand scale of things, 8 billion people won't know you have.
It's similar to those people who fear public speaking. I used to be one of them. Why did I fear it? Because I thought I'd feel embarrassed if I stuffed things up.
On the rare occasion I felt embarrassed, nobody noticed.
And it's exactly the same for you, too. Most people are too busy or concerned with their own things to notice if you're embarrassed.
Those who do know will support you anyway. If anyone doesn't, why care about them if they were never supporting you?
Tip: Think about how many people care compared to how many people hope you fail. You will have the odds stacked in your favor. Like Nike says, just do it.
What if I never try?
By now, you've probably realized that the worst outcome of trying and failing is returning to your current situation.
You're no worse off. There's nothing to feel embarrassed about. So what have you got to lose?
Underneath all this lies a thought that continues to burrow away in the back of your mind. An interest to try something new. A desire to improve something in your life.
This is your brain's way of building new pathways. This is the point where you should let your brain continue building. Set aside 20 minutes and go to a place where you won't be disturbed. Visualize what you want to try.
As you build new pathways, you'll create intrinsic motivators. These motivators then lead to new habit formations.*
Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
Imagine how your life would feel when you're sleeping better and reducing your stress. Picture yourself doing regular exercise and eating better.
Is your vision about your next dinner date and your glowing skin? Is it to have boundless energy later in life so you can keep pace with your grandchildren? The aging process needn't get in your way.
As the saying goes, 'what the mind can conceive, it can achieve.'
Only you will know the future you want to have - and what's holding you back from having it. So, let’s do another risk assessment.
Ask yourself this: Is the real risk trying and not succeeding the first time round - or is it never trying at all?
Tip: The only danger you face is spending your life wondering what could have happened if you'd tried. Don't look back later in life and regret things.
Final thoughts
Finding the motivation to maintain a wellness routine is an ongoing process. It takes practice.
To stay motivated on your wellness journey, figure out what you're really afraid of and imagine yourself succeeding.
Remember:, Your journey is about progress, not perfection or fast results. Everybody starts somewhere. And you'll get somewhere. Replace old habits with good habits. Start your vision today.
From here, we hope you've found your motivation to sleep better, recover faster, and age gracefully. And we hope you enjoy a long and wonderful journey.
Here's to your good energy.
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*Source: James Clear's book, Atomic Habits
