6 questions to ask yourself before making a lifestyle change

Ever heard someone talk about a new health journey they’re on and immediately thought, “YES! That’s for me!” Trust me, you’re not alone. It’s so easy to catch the vision for a lifestyle that’ll help you level up your life – but it’s important to know why it’s so exciting to you before you start.

Whether you’re just starting out on a plant-based nutrition journey or you’re looking to improve another area of your health, I know you’re probably ready to sprint toward that goal! If you’re anything like me, once you decide to make a change, you’re all in. Here’s the thing: I want you to be in for the long haul! We all know that feeling of petering out and getting disappointed, and it’s… well, it’s not fun. So today, I’m offering you 6 questions for self-reflection.

You might want to grab a journal, because I want you to get honest, raw, and vulnerable about what you want this lifestyle change to look like and where you want it to take you. Jot down your answers, along with a few affirmations, mantras, or anything else that feels sacred to you, and get ready to revisit your words often. Answering these questions will help you stick with the lifestyle you actually want – so that you can have the life you actually dream of.

1. Why is this change important to you?
   It’s important to get clear about your “why,” because you’ll need to remind yourself of it from time to time. Listing out your motivation for this change will help you build a strong foundation for your health vision, and it will also keep you in alignment with that ultimate goal when you face hard days or burnout along the way.Journal Prompt: This health change is important to me because…
2. What does this change mean to you?
   This might sound similar at first glance, but your intention is actually different than your why. Your why is the motivating factor behind creating change. Your intention is your purpose or your goal. When you paint a picture of your future, what does it look like? Let that picture drive you.Your intentions allow you to create sustainable goals – and they also allow you to attach purpose and meaning to them.Journal Prompt: Obtaining this health goal means that I…
3. How could this lifestyle change help me?
   This is a fun one: make a list of all the ways this change could improve your quality of life. If you’re not already excited, trust me – you will be after you write these things down. If the second journal prompt was about your big picture differences, think of this as the time to get specific. Maybe you’ll have more energy to play with your kids. Maybe you’ll regulate your blood sugar or hormone levels. Maybe you’ll lose weight and gain strength. List as many things as you’d like. It’s exciting to imagine a better future.Journal Prompt: This change will help me…
4. HOW might you feel different when you make this lifestyle change?
   Visualize yourself feeling the way you want to feel. What do you see? How is it different from how you feel today? Get super specific here, and don’t stick to just physical differences. Those are great, but lifestyle changes offer mental, emotional, and spiritual shifts, too!Journal prompt: After making this change, I’ll feel…
5. What does your life look like in 5 years if you do nothing?
   Take a moment to imagine how things would look if you never started, or if you didn’t stick with the change you’re considering. Then, compare and contrast that with what your life could look like in 5 years if you committed to this lifestyle change! This is definitely a list that you’ll want to revisit. I know it’ll help you power through those times you want to give up. (P.S. Don’t shame yourself for those times – we all experience them! I just want you to have the tools you need to get past the discouraging moments.)Journal prompt: If I didn’t change anything for the next 5 years, my life would look like…But after 5 years of living this lifestyle change, my life will look like…
6. When you picture yourself living your healthiest and happiest life, what do you see? Get specific here.
   You’ve taken some time to highlight big picture goals and specific changes. Now, you get to envision the life you’ve been hoping for and dreaming about. This is where the real magic happens! What do you see when you imagine a good future for yourself? How do you feel? How do you see that upcoming version of yourself? Get as specific as you can.Journal prompt: When I picture myself living my healthiest and happiest life, I see…I am… I feel…

Lastly, here are a few of my favorite quotes to keep in mind as I’m implementing changes. Feel free to write them in your journal to look back on, and include your own affirmations as well!

• “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”– Tony Robbins
• “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”– Henry David Thoreau
• “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

I hope these questions and prompts are incredibly helpful in not just starting, but sustaining your lifestyle change. Knowing and revisiting your answers to these questions will help you envision where you are now and where you want to be. And remember, the first step in sustainable change is believing in yourself and knowing that you’re worthy of the lifestyle you wish to have. I believe in you! I hope that after this exercise, you believe in you, too.