Can You Be Too Inspired? Why building healthy habits works best when you start small
I’m feeling inspired right now.
I’ve just had my birthday which I always welcome as a positive ‘reset’ opportunity. I’m reading a great book about how reducing sitting time throughout the day can improve both physical and mental health. It’s one of those simple lifestyle changes that feels completely doable.
But here’s the thing…my New Year’s goals are still floating around in my mind too.
They were great intentions: drinking more water throughout the day, doing dynamic stretching and mobility work every morning, adding more cardio into my exercise schedule.
Oh and then there are the other habits I’ve tried to introduce since January: eating more whole foods, getting in at least 8,000 steps per day, and practising more “thought catching” to stay aware of my mindset. And these are all in addition to last year’s goals which are still very much alive on my wishlist; practicing more guitar, making more time to see friends.
If you’re someone interested in personal growth and wellbeing, this might sound familiar.
The inspiration overload
We live in a time where there is an incredible amount of guidance on how to improve our health and wellbeing.
There are podcasts, books, blogs, social media posts, and research studies all sharing ways to optimise our lifestyle, from nutrition and sleep to mindfulness, movement and mental resilience.
In many ways, that’s amazing. We have more access than ever to information about how to care for our bodies and minds.
But there can also be a downside.
Sometimes we become so inspired by all the possibilities for positive change that we try to implement everything at once.
And that’s where things can become unsustainable and we risk being harsh to ourselves when things don’t go to plan.
Why healthy habits often snowball
One of the wonderful things about improving your wellbeing is that healthy behaviours tend to reinforce each other.
You might notice that after a long walk or run you suddenly crave fresh, nourishing foods. Your body naturally wants to support the good thing you’ve just done.
On the flip side, after a late night or a few too many drinks, you might find yourself craving burgers and ice cream the next day.
Our habits influence each other more than we realise.
That’s why getting healthier can sometimes feel a little addictive in the best possible way. Once you start feeling the benefits, it’s natural to want more.
But this is also where we need to practise a little self-compassion.
The trap of changing everything at once
If a burst of motivation leads us to completely overhaul our approach to:
diet
hydration
sleep
mindfulness
resistance training
cardio
mobility
socialising
journaling
productivity habits
…it’s unlikely that all of those changes will stick.
Not because we lack discipline.
But because sustainable lifestyle change usually happens gradually.
Real, lasting habits are built through consistency.
A coaching approach to sustainable change
This blog isn’t here to dampen your enthusiasm or motivation. Inspiration is powerful.
Instead, it’s an invitation to pause and take a slightly more supportive approach with yourself.
If you’re feeling inspired to improve your wellbeing, try this:
1. Write down all the lifestyle changes that excite you.
Let everything go onto the list; fitness, nutrition, mindset, routines, anything that feels meaningful.
2. Choose one or two habits to start with.
Ask yourself: Which change am I most excited by, and that feels important and realistic to introduce right now?
3. Focus on embedding those habits first.
Give yourself time to let them become part of your normal routine.
4. Revisit the list later.
Once your first habits feel natural, you can introduce the next step at a pace that works for you.
When we remove urgency and pressure, we create the conditions for real change.
And sustainable change is where long-term wellbeing lives.
Building meaningful goals
One of the most powerful things coaching can help with is identifying which goals truly matter to you, and creating realistic, achievable steps towards them.
If you'd like to explore this further, you might enjoy my related blog:
“Is Your Goal Really Your Goal?”
It explores how to identify goals that genuinely align with your values, rather than the ones we sometimes feel we should pursue.