Our thoughts, beliefs, and the manner in which we talk to ourselves can impact our behavior and success with healthy habits.  Creating a healthy lifestyle can be a long-term project with many ups and downs. Staying positive is important as individuals push forward with their goals!

Here are a few strategies for keeping self-talk positive: 

Avoid all-or-nothing thinking. Avoid terms like never, always, nothing, or every(thing). Change thought patterns by looking for alternatives, grey area.

Talk to yourself differently. Change perspective. Ask: “How would my best friend or parent support and help me in this situation?”

Give yourself credit for the small things. Even if you have not accomplished a goal yet, take a moment to reflect on what has been achieved so far.

Get grateful. Take a minute to think of everything/everyone that you’re thankful or grateful for. We often tend to think negatively about our body and health when we are frustrated with making changes. To shift negative thought, think about the good things your body is doing for you. Examples include, getting you from one place to another, providing energy to participate in hobbies you love, or having the strength to get you through work outs.

Improve the moment. Do something that interrupts negative thoughts (call a friend, listen to a funny podcast or turn up the music).