Environments for healthy living

Ahhh...beautiful Byron Bay.

Every morning I woke and people were jogging up and down the beach, or up the boardwalk to the lighthouse for the panaromic view from Australia's most easterly point.

The water's warm, the temperature is embracing, and you just feel good.

People often remark on the vibe of the place. You are just drawn to good health: everywhere there are people being active, in the water and on the beach. You eat better, you sleep better, and you find yourself slipping on the runners for a jog too.

Back in Canberra with the autumn leaves falling and the heater turned on for the first time this year, it's a whole new story.

You really have to work hard to beat the environment. It's an effort to get out of bed in the dark. When the temperature drops, all I feel like is comfort food like toasted cheese
sandwiches. I shiver at the thought of a salad.

An environment like Byron Bay is definitely conducive to healthy living. But how do you achieve the same thing when you live in a land-locked city with frosty mornings?

The easiest solution is of course to move to the beach. However this is not always practical. (though Rob and I are working on that pan!)

In absence of a coastal move, it's all about making the environment as effective as possible in supporting your goals.

With my health goals, this means hiring a personal trainer, not having temptation foods in the house, and having a routine that makes it easy to pull on clothes and head out the door, even in the dark: clothes are laid out and ready to go the night before. I set my intention firmly with Rob the night before: I'm going running tomorrow at 6am - are you in? My enthusiasm often spurs him on. And when it doesn't, my momentum carries me out the door anyway.

Designing environments is one of the most powerful ways to draw yourself easily towards your goals.

It's about creating an easy path, rather than overcoming hurdles.

It's definitely a fun way to evolve.

Ok thats it for today - I'm back to editing the Three Pillars of Personal Power program.

I think I'll add 'move to the beach' as one of the 52 environmental design tips!

Zoe