Encouraging Healthy Habits

Encouraging someone you love to adopt healthier habits can be a touchy subject. Maybe you want to encourage them to be more active, eat more vegetables, or quit smoking. Whatever your motivation may be, there’s a fine line between motivation and shaming. Check out these tips for ways to encourage a healthy lifestyle in the friendliest way possible.
Give them the facts.
There are many misconceptions floating around about living a healthy lifestyle. Some people think you need to have a gym membership, deprive yourself of a social life, and eat bland chicken. In reality, none of these are true.
You can encourage your friend by letting them know they can do any activity that they like to get in their daily dose of activity. They can go for a walk, play a game of racquetball, or do yoga in the park. Joining a workout group or class can also fulfill a desire for social interaction. You can both join a recreational sports league or a bootcamp training class, too. This way they’ll make new friends, have fun, and still get in a good workout.
There are also many different clean eating recipes that are still packed with flavor! You can let them know to check out some nutritious meal recipes on our Pinterest, or experiment with recipes of their own. Trying new foods can be a fun, eye-opening experience that can add new sources of nutrients into your daily diet.
Focus on the positives.
You can also help your friend appreciate the benefits of healthy eating and exercising. Don’t just assume they recognize the benefits, point out the positives to them. You can comment how much better you feel when you skip the morning donut. Or, tell them how they’ll feel awesome on Monday morning without skimping on sleep all weekend.
Be a buddy.
Offer to join your friend on their healthy lifestyle quest. You both can start working out together or experiment with cooking new, healthy recipes. This keeps both of your accountable and makes it more fun!
When teaming up with you friend, avoid using “should” when talking about making healthier choices. Instead, say something along the lines of “You said you’ve been feeling sluggish lately. If you want, we can go for a quick jog this evening and cook a healthy dinner. That always helps me feel more energized during the week!”
Above all, do your best to encourage and accept your friend’s limitations. However, if aches and pains have been limiting you or your friend, consider visiting an Airrosti provider near you. Our providers eliminate pain directly at the source to get you back to a pain-free life, fast.
Read our Medical Disclaimer here.