Go all in on something: get set to make more small, healthy choices

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3 mins read

Physical health Wellness

A healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be a question of all or nothing. If you can take more small, consistent steps to improve your wellbeing doing the things you love, then you’re on the right track. We call it the ‘all or something’ approach, and it’s championed by Ash Barty and Steph Gilmore.

We’re often taught to see our health in black and white. If we can’t give our all, we might as well give up. But why should we be so hard on ourselves? The key to health and wellbeing isn’t ‘all or nothing’. It’s about going after your own healthy ‘somethings’ in between.

When it comes to forming healthy habits that last, our AIA Experts say consistency is key. It’s easier to start small with simple actions – because being consistently good is better than being occasionally perfect.

Small exercise somethings can really add up

Have you ever bitten off more than you can chew with an overly rigorous exercise plan… and then found yourself making excuses to avoid it?

If it’s raining outside you might tell yourself you can’t take your bike out today. Or if you sleep ten minutes past your alarm you roll back into bed, reasoning that it’s too late now for your workout before work.

But a healthy little something is always better than nothing! Just ask AIA Vitality members: in our program’s 10 years, they’ve clocked up 420 billion steps, completed nearly 100,000 AIA Vitality Health Checks, and visited AIA partner gyms more than 3.9 million times. They know that by doing a rainy-day HIIT session at home – or cutting some sets at the gym to still make it to work on time – they’re still taking the small steps that will make a big difference to their health.

Because every little bit helps. Exercise plays a major role in preventing the five non-communicable diseases that cause over 90 per cent of premature deaths in Australia. And best of all, the benefits have a lasting effect on your overall wellbeing¹.

Be kinder to yourself

A big part of going all in on healthy somethings is learning to be kinder to yourself. Instead of giving up, give yourself some credit.

Didn’t hit your step count for the day? That’s fine – pat yourself on the back for the steps you did manage. Nobody’s perfect. And there’s always tomorrow to get your something back on track.

Don’t just take our word for it: studies show self-compassion can help you increase motivation to change.

Focus on small steps for a healthier you

There’s a reason crash diets (or total diet replacements) and juice cleanses don’t work: they’re unsustainable and can even be harmful to your health.

So instead of overhauling your diet, go all in on changing one or a few small things. Maybe it’s swapping soft drink for sparkling mineral water, or potato chips for air-popped popcorn. These small choices all add up to a healthier you.

Regular health checks are also an easy way to stay on top of your health. Instead of putting them off, plan to tick off one test every month. If you’re an AIA Vitality member, you can review a few important health categories – blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, and body composition – all at the same time through the AIA Vitality Health Check. The best part? It’s free, and you can earn up to 7,000 AIA Vitality Points in the process.

Go all in on the AIA Small Somethings challenge

Are you ready to find your healthy something and make it stick?

The AIA Small Somethings challenge includes 10 months of health and wellbeing motivation, coached by AIA’s ambassadors, with rewards on offer each month.

Visit aia.com.au to register, then get set to go.

Footnotes

¹ https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.00452/full

Staff Writer

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

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