Last week I was shopping for a greeting card and found one after another offering a negative yet humorous slant on healthy living. Cards like “Exercise? I thought you said extra fries!” or “I’m on a seafood diet—I see food and I eat it” are funny because when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, thoughts of deprivation, exhausting, or boring exercise routines, and endless tracking and journaling often come to mind. The mere thought of all those changes can feel like an overwhelming chore, so we joke about it and seldom if ever consider that healthy habits could be enjoyable. We may even get comfort in such humor because it affirms the opposite just can’t be true. Even the word “chore” is hardly appealing. Think back to when you were a kid and were told to “do your chores” before you could engage in a fun activity. Perhaps the dreaded chore wasn’t something to look forward to but the reward afterwards was, so we focused on the benefit of accomplishing that task. Since chores are not something we typically look forward to, approaching something as though it’s a chore, without the reward, creates resistance rather than motivation.
February is Heart Health Awareness month and serves as a good reminder to give yourself some love! To start, practice turning “have-to’s”(chore mindset) into “get to’s”(choice mindset). This will reframe approaching heart health as an opportunity to add nourishing and enjoyable elements to your life rather than a list of things you can’t eat or do. By focusing on what you gain rather than what you’re giving up, heart-healthy choices become exciting rather than restrictive. I know, I’m talking about exercise and healthier eating as becoming “enjoyable” habits we can look forward to, but please hear me out. It’s not funny greeting card material but there truly are some key ways to make heart health feel like a natural, rewarding part of your daily life.
Sometimes a health scare will initially get someone moving in the right direction, but sadly, even that is seldom enough. What truly keeps things moving forward is a shift in mindset. Otherwise, as creatures of habit, we slowly slip back into our previous ways even though they were not serving us well. In both my personal and professional experience I find that mindset shifts, when coupled with a strong “why” become the main ingredients for sustainable lifestyle change. The secret sauce however is the mindset piece. That is the true key to long-term success, and although it’s one that seldom makes the “Top 5” of the Heart-Healthy Lifestyle hit parade, Mindset Matters. It doesn’t happen overnight but chipping away a bit at a time can bring about remarkable results.
Healthy habits stick when they’re aligned with activities you genuinely enjoy. Rather than forcing yourself into a workout or meal plan that feels like punishment, find routines that bring you happiness. Love podcasts? Listen to one during your evening walk. Enjoy creative cooking? Experiment with heart-healthy recipes that feel indulgent and satisfying. Find an option that suits you and create your own pairing.
There is so much we can do to treat the heart well in return for the amazing work it does for us each and every day. We probably don’t give much thought to the fact that it is continuously pumping oxygen and nutrient rich blood through the body and beating an average of 100,000 times… daily! Initiating and implementing small changes can lower the risk of heart disease and improve overall health and well-being. It’s about thriving and allowing yourself the opportunity to enjoy your best health. Whether your goal is to keep up with your kids, travel the world, or simply feel energized every day, connecting your choices to your “why” makes them more meaningful.
- Write down three reasons you want to be/stay heart-healthy. Post them somewhere visible to keep you inspired.
- Reflect regularly on how your efforts are improving your energy, mood, and quality of life.
- Reframe mistakes as learning opportunities to adjust and move forward.
- Reward yourself for consistency with non-food-related treats, like a new book, your favorite movie, or a relaxing massage.
- Renew your commitment to yourself daily.
Choose to make heart health a lifestyle rather than a chore beginning with a shift in mindset. When you embrace small changes and connect them to your deeper purpose, heart-healthy habits can become some of the most rewarding parts of your life. Because, when you show your heart some love, there’s a really good chance it will love you back!
