Setbacks and how to deal with it
We all face setbacks and things that are triggers to go back to old habits. Habits are the repetition of an action or behavior that becomes part of an immediate response. The good news is you can break this pattern without going back to square one. Setbacks can indicate when something is not working or the need to change the current approach. The setbacks can be physical, environmental, or emotional. The environment influences how you act and behave including what your habits are. When working on making a change in your life, some changes can affect your course of direction. Slip-ups happen, so I would like to offer you tips that can help you navigate setbacks and minimize the risk of relapse/slip-ups.
Tip 1: Remember your commitment and goal and all the mini progresses you have achieved.
It is easy to lose sight of the goal when emotions or triggers take over. Emotions or specific events can lead you to reduce discomfort by going back to what is a quick fix. An example can be feeling sad can trigger an episode of emotional eating then feeling like a failure due to this one time in a couple of months. You can then get to another extreme feeling guilty and frustrated with where you are at.
Tip 2: Let Go of the idea of goal recovery being linear
The reality of goal achievement is not linear. There will be good days and days when you might struggle to change your habits. The factors that affect goal setting are consistency and effort in moving toward the goal. Be consistent and don’t worry about figuring it all out at the current moment. My advice is to learn to go with the flow and adapt to the situation.
Tip 2: Revisit your “why”
The “why” is your own reason to change or improve. The reasons can be personal or complex but do what feels right for you. Change is okay as you can change due to life circumstances.
Here are some questions to help you explore this area if you feel stuck:
Why do I want to make this change?
How will this benefit my life?
Why do I want to work on this goal?
Do I feel inspired by my why?
Does this goal motivate me? If not, why?
Tip 3: Set realistic expectations and let go of perfectionism.
Realistic expectations are the foundation of goal achievement to help you adapt and grow throughout the process. The realistic view of expectations is removing the perfectionist tendencies. This means not being harsh to yourself by being too harsh and showing yourself no mercy.
Tip 4: Reach out to your support system when you feel need support not when you hit rock bottom
The support system you have in place is to help you get back on track and feel supported. It might be a friend, therapist, health coach, or anyone else you can visit. There is nothing wrong with seeking support when you feel overwhelmed or lose motivation. In addition, you don’t need to hit rock bottom to get support. You deserve the support you need to get to where you want to be.
If you have any questions, reach out to me at @embracing_wellbeing on Instagram or click on contact me via email at sarah@embracingwellbeing.com
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