According to BENU pharmacist Deimantė Zalagaitytė, overly high demands on oneself can lead not to greater motivation, but rather to fatigue and disappointment when the set plan is not followed.
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“The most important thing is to continue what we started, even with short pauses, because one deviation cannot change the result of the entire journey,” says the pharmacist.
Small changes – great health benefits
A healthier life does not necessarily start with big promises or radical changes. Sometimes the greatest impact comes from simple daily decisions that eventually become habits.
“Small changes are a very significant, initially often unrecognized and intangible benefit, because every positive stimulus makes the body react regardless of the overall chaos in life,” says pharmacist D. Zalagaitytė.
According to her, even short physical activity can contribute to better well-being. For example, walking or cycling for 15–30 minutes daily can improve mood, sleep quality, increase resistance to stress, as well as improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system and digestive organs.
Consistency is better than short-term enthusiasm
People who start exercising often want quick results, so they immediately choose an intense training plan. However, such a pace does not always become a long-term habit.
Regular, even shorter movement is often more valuable than a very ambitious plan.
“The first workouts, of course, are the most psychologically and physically difficult, but they could be eased by a slower pace. For example, including not 4 or 5 workouts, but 1 or 2,” says the pharmacist.
In her opinion, regular, even shorter movement is often more valuable than a very ambitious plan that a person follows for only a few weeks. What matters for health is not a one-time burst of effort, but the ability to maintain the habit in everyday life.
One bad day does not ruin progress
In striving to live healthier, many people also face perfectionism – the desire to do everything flawlessly. However, this attitude can become one of the biggest obstacles.
“Perfectionism often can become a failure because every deviation from set goals seems like a sin, which makes one blame themselves and eventually give up everything because the original plan was different,” emphasizes D. Zalagaitytė.
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Perfectionism often can become a failure.
The pharmacist reminds that health changes are a long-term process, so laziness to go to the gym once or eating a delicious dessert should not be a reason to give up everything.
“A missed workout or a weekend pizza suddenly cannot change the results of long work, just as one plate of salad cannot reduce weight or change muscle tone,” says the specialist.
A healthy routine should not cause stress
The pharmacist emphasizes – taking care of health should help you feel better, not become another source of stress. An overly strict routine can actually reduce motivation and hinder achieving desired results.
“Constantly rushing before an upcoming workout, refusing to meet friends, spending less time sleeping, blaming ourselves for eating sweets, we experience constant stress, which causes fatigue, mood swings, or loss of motivation,” says BENU pharmacist.
There is really no need to immediately plan long workouts or completely change your daily routine.
To ensure that healthier habits last longer than a few weeks, it is important to start with what a person can actually accomplish. There is really no need to immediately plan long workouts or completely change your daily routine.
“For example, it is not necessary to promise yourself to run 3 times a week – you can start with a 10-minute morning walk, which will eventually turn into running,” advises D. Zalagaitytė.
According to her, the main foundations of health remain the same – balanced nutrition, sufficient physical activity, and quality sleep. But the most important thing is not to forget that a healthier lifestyle is not a perfect plan without mistakes.
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