Change Your Mind And You Can Change Your Life

I really think that half the battle in achieving our health and wellness goals comes down to having the right mindset. I mean think about it, if you have a positive outlook then that daily grind that comes with achieving our goals becomes that much easier...or at least seems like less of a burden. To me, the two most important times of the day are first thing in the morning and the last 30 minutes at night.

It’s important to start the day with a positive frame of mind. Consider this: you get up, you must get lunches ready, make sure the kids are dressed and packed for school, you check your emails to find out the latest drama all the while getting yourself ready for a long commute to work. Doesn’t sound like much of a foundation on which to start a day does it?

Do yourself a favour. Get up 20 minutes earlier each day. Yes, 20! “But I don’t get enough sleep now” you say. I don’t care...go to bed earlier then, just do it. You’re worth the investment. During that 20 minutes, it’s just going to be “you” time. No checking emails, no prepping lunches...nadda!

Take those 20 minutes to start a journal. Write down all the things you are grateful for, all the things that make you happy and give you fulfilment. It won’t be easy at the beginning but just dedicate the time to do this. It will be easier and become more natural as time goes on. Taking time to reflect on the positive first thing in the morning will put you in a positive frame of mind right off the bat. This will set a positive framework for the rest of the day to come. Soon, you will look forward to this morning routine.

If it’s important to start the day with a positive attitude, then ending the day in the right frame of mind is equally important. To do this, try to make the last 30 minutes of the day as relaxing as possible. 30 minutes before bedtime (and yes, set a consistent bedtime each night and stick to it) turn off all electronics. That means TV, phone, tablets. If you aren’t sure if it’s an electronic then ask yourself “did they have this in the year 1820?” If the answer is no then it is probably an electronic and you should turn it off.

All tuned out? Great...now it’s time to de-stress. You could do this by writing in your journal again, taking a hot shower or bath, doing some stretching or meditating or just picking a quiet room and grabbing a book to read. The idea is to create a relaxing area in which to unwind and let the thoughts of the day drift out of your mind. This is the time of day where you just let your mind relax.

By starting and ending the day with a positive routine you can create a positive mindset. The more you do this, the more it will become habit and the better it will work. All I ask is that you try...it really does work in creating a positive attitude. It’s hard at first. Maybe the first few days you just scribbled lines on a notepad. But then it gets easier over time.