Habits. We all have them.
Some are good, like waking up early each morning or working out consistently.
Some are not so good, like stopping to get fast food or watching too much tv.
And then we all have those habits that are quite bad that we want to change.
Maybe the bad habit you have formed is one you can easily break. Or maybe it is something you have been trying to change for years with no success.
Either way, there are always ways we can break these bad habits and form new, healthy ones that will improve our life.
Charles Duhigg, journalist and author of some books on habits and productivity, once said “Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.”
Any habit, no matter what it is, can be shaped and changed to be better.
It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen!
Small changes can lead to big results, and your future you will be much healthier once all of the small changes add up.
We all want to be the best versions of ourselves, so how do we develop new healthy habits that can help us reach that goal?
Make a List of Good Habits
The first thing you can do is make a list of good habits you would like to see yourself implement in your life.
Small or big, putting them into a list helps you identify these goals.
You can organize this list however you’d like.
If you want to put the most important on the top you can, or if you want to just list them as they come to mind.
Any way is fine, just get them all on paper!
Pick ONE
Now that you’ve made your list, pick ONE of these habits.
I know what you’re thinking. ‘Why did I just list so many habits if I only needed the one?
It can be overwhelming seeing all the ways you want to change. Don’t overwhelm yourself!
Tying to do too many at once can be scary, and can often lead to not sticking to any of them at all.
By picking only one, it gives you a safe place to start. Once you develop one habit, it is easier to start forming more as well.
So, start small with a simple one that is realistic.
Select one and only one, and focus on that single thing!
Make it a Priority in Your Life
Now that you’ve picked the habit you would like to start with, make it a priority.
For a habit to stay, you need to make it a part of your lifestyle.
If the habit that you want to form is to exercise daily, you need to make the arrangements to ensure you can do this.
You need to make sure you block off time to workout or go to the gym.
If the habit is to eat healthier, you need to get rid of all of the unhealthy food you have at home and make sure you don’t cave and buy any junk food.
If the habit is to stop smoking or drinking, you need to make sure you aren’t going to places that encourage you to drink or smoke.
You get the jist.
If it is important to you, you will make it a priority and make sure you can form this habit in the long run.
Do it everyday
Be consistent!
You need to actively make an effort or it won’t stay.
If you miss a day, it isn’t the end of the world. Don’t give up!
But if you do something everyday, that is how it becomes a habit!
They say that if you can do something for 30 days you can do it forever!
Just 30 days, a month, and your new habit is usually a part of who you are.
So don’t give up and make sure you are doing it everyday if you can!
Find an Accountability Partner
Depending on the habit, support from others can be the factor that helps us truly change our lives for good.
Having someone to confide in and to push you when you need it can be helpful, especially if this change is a harder one to make.
We are more likely to do something when we have the pressure of others too, so it can also help our motivation to have someone know!
Find someone who wants to see you succeed and check in with them.
Give Yourself a Pat on the Back
Be easy on yourself! You have already took the first step to change, and sometimes change is hard!
You are working on yourself, which is something to be proud of!
When you mess up or go a few days without your habit, don’t beat yourself up!
Instead, give yourself a pat on the back for how far you’ve come.
Each day is a day you are bettering yourself, and each day is an accomplishment!
Be proud of yourself, and keep going!
You Can Do It!
Remember, just 30 days and a habit can become part of your lifestyle.
You can do it, we believe in you!
We hope these tips have helped you take a step closer to being the healthiest version of yourself.
Let us know in the comments some habits you have changed or want to change!