Build a Healthy Tribe

“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.”

This quote, originally attributed to motivational speaker Jim Rohn, was used in the context of personal and professional growth and success, but the same principal can be used for improving your health and wellness (and let’s be honest – without the latter, does the former even matter?). Social influence has a large impact on whether or not you can stick to your fitness and nutrition goals, and make health a lifestyle.

Think about it, if tomorrow you decide to start eating healthier and exercising then you come home to your spouse cooking an unhealthy dinner at home, it’s going to be an uphill battle. If your weekdays are filled with co-workers that like to go to fast food for lunch and happy hour after work, it’s going to be harder to get to the gym regularly. Then on your weekends your friend’s idea of a good time is going to the bar for drinks and wings then you are going to be exhausted by hurdle after hurdle that you have to jump over just to make a positive choice. Your social circle can either build you up, encourage you, and keep you motivated towards a wellness goal, or they can make each step you take, each decision you make, that much more difficult.

When deciding to make healthy and positive changes in your life, it’s important to start looking at those closest to you. What behaviors and activities do you participate in with them that could be working against the positive changes you are trying to make? Are you comfortable having a conversation with that person about the changes you are making, and be willing to ask for their support? Can you tell them how they can help you?

And finally, can you stand up for yourself, and stay true to the behaviors you are trying to change in the face of resistance, even if that means saying “no” to invitations, activities, and things that will derail your goals?

Because there will be resistance. It is very common for those who subscribe to unhealthy behaviors to want to try and encourage others to also do so. It’s rarely malicious or personal, and in many cases it’s done out of love – “try the cookie”, “stay and have a drink with me” etc – but it’s going to make your goals harder to reach. Walk away from these people, at least at the beginning, when you are at the weak early stages of trying to break old bad habits.

Build a healthy tribe. It’s just as important to seek out positive social influence to replace or drown out the bad. Here are just some ideas to get you going:

• Seek out co-workers that workout at lunch or after work and join them;
• Join an intramural sports league,
• Go on meet up and find an active group to join,
• Join a running group or hiking group;
• Attend group fitness/yoga classes;
• Learn a new sport or hobby

Find active and health minded individuals to align yourself with and spend time with them to help you build and establish these healthy behaviors they have already adopted as part of their life.

After some time you will become more grounded in your new healthy life habits that it will be easier to become the guiding light for others. Plant the seed by leading by example. In other words, be the positive change you want to see in others. Understanding that growth can happen slowly, that acceptance, and acknowledgement can take time, and that we will all travel down this road differently. Choosing to take the road of healthy eating, exercise, and an overall healthy lifestyle isn’t easy, but the benefits far outweigh any sacrifices given.