All of us have been told at one point in our lives to create some sort of healthy habit, but how do we go about doing it? Where do we start? To begin creating a healthy habit, we must be aware of ourselves and most importantly, be patient.
There are three important ways we can start our health journey:
First off, we must know what kind of habits we have. Try to look back and see what kind of habits we already have on a daily basis. For example, you might find yourself having a glass of wine every night or brushing your teeth at 10 A.M. each morning. A behavior that you might find rewarding can wire your brain to make a habit that is difficult to break. Keeping in mind of the habits that you already have that can lead you to make unhealthy decisions is the key to taking your first step into the journey of health. Once a habit is identified, you can start disrupting the pattern! If your goal is to walk more and you realize that you have a habit of watching T.V. for two hours after dinner, you can try to stop watching T.V. after dinner and go for a walk instead. Find what triggers the unhealthy habits and put an end to it!
Next, you must have a plan. It is very hard to keep on track if you don’t know where you’re headed. Making a plan that has reasonable, achievable goals with specific actions will aid you in your journey. Don’t try to push yourself to achieve too much at once! If your goal is to begin eating healthier, you cannot expect to start eating healthy and never eat junk food again. However, you can plan out a health focused grocery trip every week where you stock up on healthy foods or ingredients rather than buying junk food or snacks. Importantly, make sure to plan out for things that might derail you from your goal. If you find yourself buying junk food during lunch, create a plan to make lunch on your way to work. Additionally, try to get your family and friends involved in your plan! Having people to join you in your journey can make it fun, and you have someone to hold you accountable for your actions.
Lastly, think positive! As mentioned earlier, it is going to a long, hard journey. You are bound to lose track here and there, but the key is to not lose hope. The end goal is to make sure that you have a healthy habit, and habits take a while to stick. When you are feeling low, make sure to think about the end game! What are you trying to accomplish with this habit? What are the consequences if you don’t? If you’re trying to sleep earlier, you can try making a sleep log! Keeping a record can help you stick with your goal and achieve that habit.
Habits won’t happen right away. It’ll take time and effort, but as long as you’re patient with yourself and put in the work, you’ll find yourself with numerous healthy habits!
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