Hack Your Environment – Health Yourself

We’re all striving to better ourselves in one way or another, right? But do you ever feel like no matter how good your intentions are, distractions keep pulling you off track? You’re not alone! The good news? You have more control than you think.

You possess a powerful tool that you may not even realize you’re not fully utilizing. Let’s talk about how to HACK YOUR ENVIRONMENT. By modifying the people, places, and things in your life, you can greatly increase your chances of staying on track and fight back against the saboteurs. Here are some simple strategies that you can implement today:

1. Make Tempting Foods Unavailable: Don’t just avoid the foods that steer you away from your goals—eliminate them! When grocery shopping, skip anything that isn’t aligned with your goals. And let’s be honest: If it’s not good for you, it’s probably not great for your family either.

Go through your kitchen today and ditch anything that doesn’t support your goals.

2. Stock Up on Healthy Snacks: Fill your pantry and fridge with healthy snack options like fruits & veggies, easy-to-grab protein options like single serving fat-free yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, turkey jerky, protein bars. Go a step further and pre-wash and cut the produce so it’s even more of a no-brainer when you open the fridge.

Before your next grocery trip, make a list of high-protein, nutritious snacks to have on hand.

3. Make Your Workouts Convenient: Make it incredibly easy to stick to your fitness regimen. Consider investing in adjustable dumbbells for home workouts or signing up at the gym that’s closest to your home or work. How about arranging a schedule with your partner to alternate school pickup duties, giving you a block of time every other day to work out?

Look at your schedule right now and find a time this week to fit in your workouts – add them to your calendar as non-negotiables.

4. Curate Your Inner Circle: We all have those people in our lives who unintentionally hold us back. While it can be challenging to set boundaries, remember: your health is your life! Surround yourself with supportive influences and those who inspire you to be the best version of yourself. It doesn’t mean cutting ties completely, but rather adjusting the time you spend together.

Identify one person or situation that tends to drain your energy. This week, set a small boundary—whether it’s limiting interactions or shifting the conversation toward positive topics.

5. Use Reminders and Apps: Leverage technology to help keep you on track. Use fitness apps that send reminders to exercise or log your meals. Setting daily or weekly goals with notifications can help keep your priorities front of mind.

Set up one reminder right now—whether it’s a fitness app notification, a meal-tracking alert, or a simple phone alarm to keep you accountable.

6. Get Your Family Involved: Encourage family participation in healthy habits. Plan activities that everyone can enjoy, like hiking, biking, or cooking healthy meals together. Creating a supportive household environment fosters accountability and makes the journey more enjoyable.

Plan one family activity this week that gets everyone moving – a walk, bike ride, or fun challenge.

Remember, these little changes can make a huge impact. By taking the reins and optimizing your environment, you’re maximizing your chance of success!