![]() ![]() ![]() Some things you do every day, like checking the mail or pouring a cup of coffee, are just a part of life. Not all habits and patterns are good or bad. If you watch tv right before bed every night, which can impair your quality of sleep, try reading a book instead and/or removing the tv from your bedroom.īy disrupting your old patterns, you allow your brain to replace bad habits with good ones.If you find yourself overeating at family-style dinners, try serving your food in the kitchen instead of on the table.Then, look for the patterns in your routine and think about a way to disrupt the negative action and replace it with positive action or remove the temptation. Take a few days to write down areas of your life that you feel contribute to poor health. Therefore, the first step towards changing your behavior and building a healthier life is to examine your current habits and routines. The NIH comments that “repetitive behaviors that make you feel good can affect your brain in ways that create habits that may be hard to change”. Our top seven tips for success will help you overcome the common pitfalls we all encounter when building healthy habits. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires effort and patience, but it can become as habitual as brushing our teeth. The same conscious effort is required to create healthy behaviors. ![]() Think back to when you were learning a new skill, like driving - you had to make a conscious effort to remember to do things, like using your blinker, that are now second nature. Making a change to our existing habits takes time and intention. Why is it so hard to implement changes that enhance our well-being?Īccording to the Mayo Clinic, the answer is more straightforward than you think: we are creatures of habit. But, making the choices that support a healthy lifestyle can feel next to impossible. Most importantly, remember that improvement takes time, and setbacks happen.When it comes to our health, the things we do on a daily basis make a significant and lasting difference. There are so many fun and creative ways to reward ourselves. Stay home and binge your favorite Netflix show or buy concert tickets for your favorite band (once quarantine is over, of course). Give yourself a nice reward when you’ve achieved a small goal or milestone, like getting a massage or scheduling some “me” time. (I just had a baby and am envisioning getting into my old jeans-yay!) Think about future benefits to stay on track. We forget things day to day, and writing everything down helps. Journaling is a perfect way to see your progress. Record how things are going to help you stay focused and catch slip-ups. Try exercise, a favorite hobby, being artistic, puzzles, reading, hiking, or spending time with family and friends. A workout buddy or therapist who can check in with you on your goals is always helpful. Being held accountable is great when trying to create better practices. Find friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, or groups for support, or ask people to join you. Do they have beneficial habits? Do they have a negative influence on you? Try to surround yourself with positive people who will support your new habit. Buy a planner or create a day-to-day schedule. Write down steps to help you achieve them. Identify unhealthy patterns and triggers. Here are some ways you can start creating healthier habits today: You just have to be consistent to let the pathways in your brain rewire in healthy directions. What I came to find out was this: no one is hard-wired, and everyone can create new habits at any given time. In my book, The Rewired Life, I discuss how to create healthy habits and increase self-care for the mind, body, and spirit. It’s not easy, but you can boost your ability to create and sustain a healthy lifestyle by being aware of your habits first, and then assessing which ones you want to change. Maybe you’ve already tried to eat healthier, get more exercise or sleep, quit smoking, cut back on drinking, or reduce stress. Know that making healthy choices can help you feel better and live longer. ![]()
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