Embarking on a health journey can seem daunting, but expert advice can light the path forward. Hear from a medical director and a cognitive performance dietitian as they share their invaluable insights. The first tip urges newcomers to choose enjoyable activities, setting a positive tone from the start. Concluding with the importance of prioritizing consistency over intensity, this article compiles six essential pieces of advice for anyone beginning their health journey.

  • Choose Enjoyable Activities
  • Trust Your Intuition
  • Be Patient With Yourself
  • Focus on Small, Sustainable Habits
  • Consult a Licensed Healthcare Professional
  • Prioritize Consistency Over Intensity

Choose Enjoyable Activities

Take it slow and choose activities that truly make you happy. Whether it’s a nice walk in the park or dancing your heart out in a class, the goal is to find movement that feels fun rather than like a chore. When you make it enjoyable, you’re way more likely to stick with it!

Diane HowardDiane Howard
Rn and Founder, Esthetic Finesse

Trust Your Intuition

Understand that it will take an unknown amount of time that is unique to you. Give yourself grace as you go through the process, and keep in mind that there will most likely be times when you think you are backtracking.

A great thing about health journeys is that regression is less plausible than many realize because when you have that “setback” moment, you won’t be back where you started; you’ll be experiencing a familiar unhealthy state from a healthier perspective. That is the key to remember as you go about your journey. And if nothing else, discover the seat of your intuition and learn to trust it.

Your intuition will be the best guiding compass you could ever use, for no two people walk the same path, yet we all share the experience of walking one. It will also be to your benefit to have an idea (no matter how vague) of what the healthiest version of yourself is like, for that is what the mind will reach to attain.

Nicholas ClayNicholas Clay
Conscious Coach, Being ONE World

Be Patient With Yourself

Be patient with yourself! Changing your lifestyle to become and stay healthy doesn’t happen overnight. Take the long view, and don’t allow yourself to lose sight of the big picture when you have setbacks (and you will!). Take baby steps and build on those. For example, get a little exercise; don’t expect yourself to run 10 miles every day (take a walk, work out for a short time period). Make one good food choice a day, and don’t beat yourself up for all the bad food choices you are making the rest of the day.

After a while, you can get a little more exercise, make two good food choices. Whatever you plan to do to get healthy, just remember to trust that you will be able to move towards your goal over time, and don’t get too discouraged. Get support when you need it, and be kind to yourself!

Ellen RothsteinEllen Rothstein
Life Transition Coach, Ellen Rothstein Coaching

Focus on Small, Sustainable Habits

Starting a health journey can feel overwhelming, but focusing on small, sustainable habits makes a world of difference. For anyone new to this path, I often recommend beginning with manageable changes, like incorporating more vegetables into meals or establishing a regular sleep schedule. In my experience as a healthcare professional, I’ve seen clients struggle when they set lofty goals right away, leading to frustration and burnout. Instead, when they adopt gradual changes, such as adding a short daily walk or replacing sugary snacks with fruits, they experience a sense of accomplishment that fuels their motivation to keep going. This strategy not only makes the process enjoyable but also lays a solid foundation for long-term health improvements.

Furthermore, celebrating small victories along the way can significantly boost confidence and reinforce these new habits. I recall working with a patient who initially started by drinking an extra glass of water each day. Over time, that one habit transformed into more significant lifestyle changes, including a consistent workout routine and healthier meal choices. This step-by-step method helped my patient gain progress and form a good connection with their health path. In the end, health is a continuous effort, and focusing on small, lasting changes helps people enjoy the process and remain dedicated to their aims over time.

Maria KnobelMaria Knobel
Medical Director, Medical Cert UK

Consult a Licensed Healthcare Professional

I advise anyone starting their health journey to work with a licensed healthcare professional.

There are a lot of people who have completed a course or certificate, or who may have a large social media following, but neither of those things makes them trustworthy or knowledgeable enough to give safe and quality care.

A great place to start any health journey is to check in with a dietitian, even just for one consultation, to see if your nutrition habits are on the right track. Personal nutrition is personal. A dietitian will complete a proper assessment for you and make recommendations that are specific to you.

Jenna StedmanJenna Stedman
Cognitive Performance Dietitian, Master Nutrition Lab LLC

Prioritize Consistency Over Intensity

The best advice I can offer to someone just starting their health journey is to focus on consistency over intensity. It’s not about pushing yourself to extremes right away but about developing sustainable habits that will support your long-term well-being.

Start with manageable goals, whether it’s improving posture, increasing mobility, or simply walking more, and build from there. I’ve found that when patients set realistic, attainable milestones, they are more likely to stick with their program and see meaningful progress. My 30-plus years of experience have shown me that it’s often the small, consistent changes that yield the biggest results over time. I also encourage people to find activities they enjoy, whether it’s Pilates, swimming, or strength training, so they are more likely to make it a lasting part of their lifestyle.

One example that stands out is a client who came to The Alignment Studio with chronic lower-back pain from years of sedentary desk work. They were eager to jump into intense workouts to fix the problem quickly, but I knew from experience that diving in too fast would likely lead to further injury. We started with a thorough assessment of their posture and movement patterns, addressing underlying imbalances with targeted physiotherapy and Pilates exercises.

Over time, we introduced strength training, but only after building a solid foundation. Within six months, not only was their back pain significantly reduced, but they also reported improved energy and flexibility, both at work and in their daily life. It was a perfect example of how taking a measured, consistent approach rather than seeking quick fixes leads to lasting, positive outcomes.

Peter HuntPeter Hunt
Director & Physiotherapist at the Alignment Studio, The Alignment Studio