Healthy Habit Building
Building healthy habits can help in improving both your mental and physical health which will have you feeling your best each and everyday. Striving to improve your daily habits and rebuilding your routines is a difficult thing to do but there are a number of steps you can take to reach your goals.
Here are some ways you can build healthy habits that will stick.
Evaluate Current Habits
Before taking on new habits, take a moment to make yourself aware of the habits you currently have. Bringing a level of self-awareness to your current habits can help you to identify the habits you enjoy and the habits you would like to change.
Make a Plan
A good way to plan for new habit building is to stack the new habits with ones you currently have. Maybe you want to start doing yoga and you decide that you will do yoga after you eat breakfast. Repetition is key in building new habits so over time, this will create a natural trigger which will help you in continuing your new habit.
Start Small
A small step forward is a step forward, so don’t overwhelm yourself with a large goal when starting a new habit. The best way to get a new habit to stick is to start small and to gradually increase the habit over time. If you want to start waking up earlier, try setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier each week. This will help your body to adjust to the new habit which will help you in reaching your larger goal.
Be Specific
Being specific in your habit building is important for your success. If you narrow your new habits down to specific actions it makes it more likely that you will achieve them. For example if your goal is “I’m going to start exercising,” make it more specific so that you know what exercising more will look like. Instead, say “I am going to go for a 30 minute walk each day after dinner.”
Track Progress
It is easy for new habits to get derailed if that feeling of motivation fades. To keep yourself motivated, track your progress. You could use a notebook, app, fitness tracker, or calendar to help track your progress over time. Not only will this keep you motivated but it will help in boosting your confidence as well.
Reward Yourself, You Deserve It!
New habit building is not an easy thing to do, it takes a lot of hard work and self-discipline so take the time to reward yourself once you hit certain milestones. Celebrate your success once a week or once a month doing something you enjoy. Whether it’s eating at a restaurant or having a night out with friends, you deserve it!
Written by Joanna Simms, Undergraduate Intern