As the New Year quickly approaches, you might be one of the millions (billions?) of people who set a resolution to finally get fit in 2019. You’re in good company. The trouble is, those resolutions are very rarely kept longer than a few weeks. We’ve all heard the saying that if there’s no pain, there’s no gain. It’s pretty much true; if you’re not actively working your muscles till they cause you discomfort then you’re probably not working out hard enough. Instead of thinking of it as pain and gain, think of it more as a sacrifice that you need to go through before you’re able to reach happiness.

However, if sacrifice is all you feel, then it’s going to be incredibly difficult to change your lifestyle habits. For instance, if weight loss to you is sweating at the gym with your entire body in pain then you’re probably not going to be very happy about it unless you’re willing to make those sacrifices in order to change your lifestyle. Similarly, going to the gym means less time with your own hobbies and having a healthy diet means skipping out on fast food; if you’re willing to make those sacrifices then you’ll easily be able to change your life around.

Confusing happiness for being content

Want to hear a cold hard truth? The reason that you’re unable to lose weight or change your lifestyle habits, really the reason we are all unable to hit the realistic resolutions we set for ourselves, is because you’re content with where you are.

Now, you might not want to admit that. Or you might find that a little hard to stomach, but people that actually want to change have made those changes. I’m talking deep-seated want for change. If you have specific fitness goals or want to lose weight but you’ve been unable to make those changes, then it’s time to face the facts and admit that to an extent you’ve become content with your life as it is. (I’m guilty of this in so many aspects of my life. I think we all are.)

People who are thirsty for success will fail over and over again until they hit their goals. Perhaps you’ve failed in the past and decided it’s not worth it, or maybe you keep pushing back the date that you want to start because you’re simply not ready to tackle the difficult task of changing habits. Either way, this way of thinking is a clear sign that you’re content with where you are now. (This is why I am a firm believer in starting a new journey - to health, fitness, relationships, whatever - today. No need to wait for the calendar to change of the perfect moment.

If you ever think something along the lines of “even though I tried and failed, I’m happy with my life as it is” then it’s not happiness–you’re just confusing it with being content. To me, it’s important not to settle for anything less than your goals, to never be content with your progress until you’ve hit the finish line and to always strive to better yourself.

In short, don’t confuse being happy with being content–they are entirely different things. If you keep thinking to yourself that you want to have a fitter body or you want to run that marathon, or that you want to feel more comfortable in your own skin, then don’t be content with where you are now.

The Key Ingredient is Happiness

Have you ever wondered how people can get up in the morning and go for a run to help them lose weight, and continue to do this for years on end while rarely missing a single day?

The answer is simple; it makes them happy. Okay, maybe not happy in the actual moment when that dang alarm goes off at 4:30am, but happy overall.

You might be thinking to yourself “but why?”. After all, running is tough, especially if you are doing it right. Waking up early is no easy task either. That feeling of exhaustion or tiredness isn’t exactly a nice feeling, so how do people cope with it? What exactly do they do differently that makes them happy while they run? To be honest, it’s all about the mindset. Tell yourself you’re happy about running or working out and you will be.

Here are a couple of reasons runners are happy about running:

• They’re getting exercise to help reduce the possibility of developing cardiovascular problems in the future.
• They love the area they run in because it gives them peace, tranquillity and helps them focus their mind. OR They love the gym environment because it gives them a sense of accomplishment and community.
• They get to catch up with their favorite podcasts or music while they run. (I can’t tell you the number of new albums I’ve listened to, music I’ve discovered and books I’ve read thanks to the hours I spend in the gym.)
• They like to be active in the morning because it gives them energy for the rest of the day and makes them feel accomplished before most people are even starting the day.
• They run together with their partner, friend or family members to make it more interesting.
• They love the fact they’re burning calories and getting fit.

This list could go on forever because there are countless reasons why running could be enjoyable or even cause someone to be happy. It’s all about finding the little details and reasons for enjoying something instead of just looking at the bigger picture.

If you can find pleasure in doing something like exercise or eating healthy, then you’ll have a far easier time burning calories and hitting those fitness goals because you’re giving yourself several reasons to do something. Your reason for running won’t just be “because I want to lose weight” anymore, it could be “because I like running” or “it’s a good way to catch up with my podcasts and audiobooks” or “I like getting some fresh air in the morning.”

So, choosing happiness can make all the difference when it comes to changing your lifestyle. It gives you a completely different perspective on the thing that you need to do in order to get fit or build better habits. For instance, if you relate an exercise like cycling to the drudgery of commuting to work, then it will only generate negative thoughts. Instead, relate cycling to having fun, the feeling of speed when the roads are clear or even just being able to get some fresh air on the way to work instead of being stuffed in a train.

Find happiness in the small things that you feel you need to do in order to successfully make a change, and you’ll find that you can stick to those habits a lot more easily.

How To Be Happy About Changing Your Lifestyle

With the New Year approaching, here are a couple of ways you can change the way you approach making changes in your life.

 

• Stop and think about what you’re doing - Don’t just blindly do those workout repetitions because someone told you to. Instead, stop and think about what you’re doing. If you’re just trying to get them over and done with as soon as possible then you’re probably not utilizing the correct form and you might end up injuring yourself. Find small things that make you happy in what you’re doing and if you can’t, find something else to do.

• Small changes add up over time - You’ve probably heard the saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” but have you heard “you don’t change your bad habits overnight”? They both illustrate the same point; big changes are made from small consistent ones that build up over time. As one of my favorite Aaptiv trainers says, “It doesn’t happen in a day, it happens daily.”

• Find replacements for bad habits - Drinking far too much soda? Consider drinking water instead. Think that’s too big of a change? Go from soda to diet soda, to club soda and then perhaps tea. Teas like hibiscus tea and matcha are excellent healthy replacements that can improve your health and help you lose weight. Don’t just get rid of bad habits–replace them with something positive.

• Create or lean on a support system - Whether it’s friends, family members or even support groups that you visit, supportive people can have your back and will teach you how to stay on track and happy when it comes to making big changes in your lifestyle.

• Don’t just listen to advice. Learn from experience - Listening to advice is fantastic especially if it’s coming from someone that has experienced the same things as you, but do keep in mind that everyone’s life is different and you can’t take someone’s advice and simply apply it to your own life. Instead, remember to learn from experience to find what makes you personally happy with your life.

• Take a holistic approach - Being happy is about making changes to your entire lifestyle, not just the things you think are important. Your body is influenced by everything in your life, so don’t funnel your focus onto one particular aspect. Instead, take a step back and look at your life as a whole.