Live Younger Longer

Enjoy what you do
For many of us, thinking about our health can bring up feelings of guilt and
shame. Such feelings could be about our bodies and how we look, or about
habits we know might hurt us in the long term but help us cope in the here
and now. For some, focusing on “being healthy” can trigger feelings of

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shame or failure when well-intentioned plans fall through. Or for some it
can lead to obsessive, unsustainable rounds of dieting and exercise. Such
thinking often involves an all-or-nothing approach.
AT LEAST HALF OF WHAT WE DO IS
HABITUAL. OUR DAILY LIVES ARE GOVERNED
JUST AS MUCH BY HABIT AS BY THOUGHT.
Healthy habits shouldn’t be a form of self-punishment. They should make
you feel good. Research shows that self-compassion is significantly more
effective than self-blame or shame when it comes to sticking with habits
over time.
Don’t keep trying to develop a healthy habit that you don’t like or enjoy. It
is doomed to fail. Instead, search for a variation of that habit or aspiration
that fits you. For example, your friend has taken up jogging and you can see
the benefits that have resulted — your friend is becoming fit and trim and
has more energy. Being fit and trim and having more energy are things you
aspire to, as well. So you decide to take up jogging. The only problem is
that you hate jogging and just can’t get into it, even after multiple attempts.
But wait. There are other ways to achieve your aspirations. First, think of
physical activities that you like to do and that fit into your lifestyle and
capabilities. Then narrow this list down to those that are easy for you to do.
Finally, pick one that you can easily link to an existing part of your routine.
The easier and more enjoyable you make it, the less friction there will be
around developing the new habit, and the more successful you’ll be.

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