10 Ways To Have a Healthy Mindset

Did you know that being healthy is about prioritizing your wellbeing, both mentally and physically? Looking after both of these aspects of your life go hand-in-hand when you are aiming to have a healthy lifestyle. 

Having a positive state of mind can improve your sense of wellbeing, and your ability to function confidently in everyday life, especially when a challenge arises. I find that if I have a positive mindset it also helps me to feel more motivated to exercise, and smash my workouts!

How to have a healthy mindset

Here are my top tips on how to have a healthy and positive mindset:

1. Accept yourself for who you are

Many people struggle with the concept of self-love. I can totally understand this as we are often bombarded with different examples of how our lives are “supposed” to be.

It can be hard to have self-love when we are constantly comparing ourselves to others. While I encourage you to always strive to be better, to be healthier and to be happier, it helps to understand that you can only do it for you — and no one else. 

You were born this way for a reason — because you are unique! No two people will ever be the same, so there is no point in trying to be someone else. Your version of success should be about what is important to you, and not about what other people are doing.

If you focus on being the best version of YOU, you will feel so much happier as you aren't constantly comparing yourself to others.

2. Make healthy food choices 

This may seem like a cliche but it is SO important. If you eat a diet of highly processed foods that have little nutritional benefit, you are doing your body an injustice. Good nutrition allows your body to function at its absolute BEST, making you feel good from the inside out. 

Processed foods can be filled with nasty additives that can affect you in a negative way. If you are constantly feeling that you're not functioning at your best, try to cut back on caffeine and foods high in salt and refined sugar. A healthy, balanced approach to eating is actually sustainable for the long-term, and can make you feel so much better in your everyday life!

3. Surround yourself with positive people

Surrounding yourself with friends, family, and people who have a positive outlook will give you a greater sense of wellbeing. Take time out of your busy schedule to connect with your friends, try new things, and have fun! 

Feeling appreciated and loved, and laughing with loved ones can help to boost your mood. Having positive people surrounding you also encourages you to strive towards your goals and be the best version of you possible. 

If you’re struggling to find support within your own networks, try connecting with the Sweat Community in your area, via the Sweat Forum or on social media. Our incredible community is where you can find thousands of like-minded women from all over the world sharing their struggles and successes in becoming healthier, more confident versions of themselves. 

4. Appreciate the little things

Our lives can be so hectic, and many of us have to balance demands from different areas in our lives — work, friends and family. 

This can get overwhelming at times, making it easier to forget what is really important in life. Every week, set some time aside for YOU. Spend more time doing little things that make you happy — it could be having a cup of tea, listening to some music you love or reading your favourite book. Take a moment to appreciate the time you're spending on yourself, even if it's just a few minutes. 

Making this a regular habit can help you to relax and appreciate the little things that make you happy. 

5. Find a hobby

It is so important to develop different skills and hobbies, as these can give you a purpose in life and bring you joy. 

If all you do is work or study then go home and repeat the cycle, you may feel underwhelmed with your life. Doing things that make YOU happy helps to keep your mindset positive. 

Starting a new hobby is also a great way to be productive with your free time, or for you to meet like-minded people and expand your networks beyond your usual social circle. 

While your interests may change year to year, as long as you have something to look forward to, you will feel more positive!

6. Give back to others

Being part of a community and offering support to others is a part of maintaining healthy relationships. 

If you have lost touch with some of your friends or family, try to do something nice for them that shows you care. When you do something for someone without expecting anything in return, it makes you feel better as a person. 

Call your grandmother who you haven't spoken to in a while, or volunteer within your local community. Small acts of kindness like this can make you feel happy and appreciated.

7. Talk about your feelings

Many of us keep a lot of our feelings in, whether that be sadness, anger or disappointment. 

It might be that you don’t talk about your feelings because you don’t want to “bother” people with your problems. However, talking about what you are feeling can help to process your thoughts and feelings, and move on from them. 

If you don’t want to talk to anyone about your feelings, writing in a journal can really help. Spend some time weekly writing down your feelings, and you will feel so much better having expressed them.

8. Review your life regularly

Time is so precious, and it seems to be going by faster and faster each year. You may have goals in mind that you would like to achieve, but how often do you sit down and track their progress?

Sitting down every few months to track what you are doing in life can be really helpful to see where you are making good progress and areas that you can improve. This can help you to be real with yourself and perhaps adjust your path if what you are doing is not working.

9. Focus on what you can control

Many of us spend a lot of time worrying about things we can’t control, but ultimately this can cause further stress. 

Instead, focus your efforts on problems you CAN control, and if these seem enormous, break them down into smaller problems and tasks. 

Remember there is always going to be something in life you won’t have complete control over, and that is just part of growing up and understanding what you should and should not focus on.

10. Use failure to encourage success

If you have found that you get disheartened when you fail at something, try instead to learn to use it as an opportunity to create success! 

It can be hard failing at something and you may instinctively want to give up, however, it is important to remember each time you fail at something it teaches you a lesson. 

Learn from your mistakes and do better next time — use lessons from your failures to make you a better person. If you give up each time something goes wrong, you may become too scared to ever try something new again, so don't let that happen. You’ve got this!