How you can use Visualisation to help you to achieve your health goals

Visualisation is a powerful tool that can help you to achieve a goal, whether that is a health related goal or any other goal. But before you dismiss this as woo woo. Bear with me whilst I explain the science below.

We are bombarded with information constantly every day, all day. For example, when we are driving the car, there are lots of things that we have to be aware of, such as other vehicles on the road, pedestrians on the pavement, hazards,, traffic lights, what gear we are in etc etc. Our brain filters out all the things that we do not need to give attention to, such as the feeling of our bum on the car seat or our clothes touching our skin etc. Our brain needs to have processes in place to protect itself and only focus on the things that need to be focused on. Our brain is also very good at prioritising the important things, i.e. what are we going to eat. Are we safe etc. And the emotional stuff gets put last. 

There have been many studies which show how effective visualisation can be. Such as one study where 1 group lifted weights, 1 group visualised lifting weights & one group did nothing. The group that lifted weights increased their muscle mass by approx 50%, the group that visualised lifting weights was between 13-30% and the group who did nothing showed no growth. So even though the group that visualised lifting weights, didn't actually lift anything,  it activated the same parts of the brain and grew muscle mass. So although I am not advocating imagining going to the gym instead of actually going to the gym, what this does show is the power of visualisation on our physical body.

This is why we should make time for daydreaming or visualisation. Especially, because these days (without sounding ancient?!?) we are NEVER bored. There isn't time to be bored. Standing in a queue at the post office - get the iphone out. On the bus (not likely at the moment but bear with) then we get the phone etc. So we give ourselves very little time to do this. Unless we make time. 

So, how can you use this to help you to achieve a health goal? Let's take the example of wanting to lose weight. You can visualise what you would be doing in order to lose weight. For example, you could visualise yourself going for a run. Really bring it to life, imagine lacing up your shoes, the breeze on your face as you step out of the door, the sun shining on your back, the sound of the birds in the trees as you run through the park etc etc. And do the same for what you are eating, visualise those fresh ingredients, picture yourself really enjoying every mouthful. Visualise how you would like your life to be when you have lost weight. What does it feel like? What are you wearing? What are the smells around you. Really integrate all of your senses if you can.

There is an important period between being awake and being asleep, called hypnagogia & you are very open to being primed to what you are exposed to. So you can use this time just before going to sleep to visualise these things. Although, I actually find my mind racing if I do this and I end up being awake for ages. So I prefer to put on some music and go for a run and do it then. 

You could also create a vision board too, so that you are reminded of your vision every day. Include things that feel within reach for you so long as you take some positive action towards them. You can include things as a stretch target or things that feel out of reach too but you need to feel in control of most of the things on there. You can have your vision board as your screen saver on your phone or laptop. Or you can have a physical vision board on a pinboard. Basically somewhere where you are going to see it a lot. My entire family is very familiar with my 2021 vision board as it is my screensaver on my laptop and given the home school situ, they all use my laptop a lot.

So, are you going to try it? I would LOVE to hear how you get on.

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