Joy Of The Jump-Start!

Pushing boundaries, exploring new areas, and moving forward keep us happy. And while there’s a place for end goals, research shows that the thrill of starting something novel and loving the process provides the most fulfillment and is the key to staying motivated long term. Embarking on a new fitness, health, or beauty routine? We asked top experts to share the art of finding joy in every step.

Cleanse your mind “I like to start any journey with a blank canvas. For example, when I wanted to overhaul my diet, I emptied my kitchen of all foods that weren’t going to make my body feel good. But I also emptied my mind of negative opinions, from others and from myself. Making a shift often starts with the assumption that something is wrong with you. That mindset led me down decades of yo-yo dieting and thousands of dollars lost on unused gym memberships. When I started my recent health journey, I created a supportive space by surrounding myself with inspirational stimuli, from podcasts and magazines to health gurus. And I made self-love my new baseline.” —Maggie Battista, author of A New Way to Food; founder of EatBoutique.com, an online food shop and recipe site; and cofounder of Fresh Collective, a network of female food entrepreneurs

THINK SMALL

“Focus on everyday behaviours instead of long-term achievements. This will give you an ongoing feeling of success. I think of it as setting process goals that you achieve daily rather than outcome goals that you achieve in the future. The problem with outcome goals: Success and happiness are on hold until you reach that end point. But process goals focus on a specific behaviour you can achieve today, so you can create more immediate success and happiness. And when you enjoy doing something, you will keep doing it without having to force yourself.” —Dawn Jackson Blatner, registered dietitian, nutritionist and author of The Superfood Swap

BEGIN BACKWARD