One of us is disabled yet we still hike/walk each day in October and many days throughout the year. How is this possible? Sheer determination. We set a goal and we’re going to accomplish it for as long as we can. It may change to a different activity based on our abilities, but we’ll still get out and move. It does improve your mental and physical health. Here’s how we do it.
- Set a goal and be determined to accomplish it. Make it realistic and check with your doctor, especially if you have health issues.
- Pick any thirty days. It doesn’t matter. We like the thirty day challenge because after that, it should become habit. It’s long enough to establish a routine and determine what works best for you in improving your overall health.
- Don’t be afraid to change your goal. If it’s too easy, set the bar higher. The reverse if also true. Don’t beat yourself up if you set too high a goal.
- Do this for you. Don’t listen to the negative. It’s likely they want to keep you at their level. Find new friends with common interests that want to succeed.
- Eat healthy. This is a total package. You can’t go for a walk and eat a whole cake. Stick to healthy meals and healthy portions. Don’t have junk food in the house and you can’t eat it.
- Set a schedule around any disability you have. What time of the day is best for your condition or situation? Set that time aside for your health.
- Continue to be determined. This is a competition against unhealthy habits.
- Stop with the excuses. You are only cheating yourself.
One other helpful tip….if you are hiking, research the trail first. We use AllTrails to check for any steep inclines or gains in the trail that we may not be able to handle. Just because the trail is labeled easy doesn’t mean it is. We’ve found some hard trails that were mostly flat and were really super easy. You can check out AllTrails for hidden walking gems you likely didn’t know were even there in your area.
The most important rule is to be true to yourself and put your health first. If there are people in your life that won’t support this, consider why. If it’s not a valid reason and they continue to throw roadblocks in your way, it’s time to distance yourself from them. Do what you need to do to be healthy and your future self will love you for all the effort.