We are creatures of routines or Habits!  I bet you woke this morning, hit the bathroom, took a shower, brushed your teeth, got dressed – pants on first, then shirt, then socks and shoes, got you morning caffeine and drove to work the same way you did yesterday and the day before.  You have a routine! A habit! But before we talk about the 5 steps to creating healthy habits, let’s look at what a habit is?

HABIT

noun

1. a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. “we stayed together out of habit“

Similar: Practice, custom, pattern, routine, norm, tradition….

Get the picture?

So why is it so hard to create healthy habits?  According to researchers that have studies habits for years- it is because we try to create healthy habits the wrong way.  We make those New Year’s resolutions or bold statements/ goals to lose weight or start an exercise program without taking those small steps to set us up for success!

Yes, I said small steps! 

Step 1 – Stack Your habits!

The best way to start a new habit is to add it to an existing habit. Look at your daily routine and see if you can find patterns of behavior where you could add in a new healthy habit.  By far, your strongest routine is most likely your morning routine, so that is a great place to add in a new healthy habit.  Maybe you park near the office door.  Try parking at the far end of the parking lot and get a few steps in before you hit your desk.  Or maybe you take the elevator every day, try taking the stairs. Or you eat your lunch at your desk, get outside and take a quick 20 mins walk.  You get the picture.

Step 2 – Start small!

Add one new activity and consistently practice it before adding in another.  You have a better chance of succeeding by starting with one small activity that will lead to the bigger behavior changes.  For example, let us say you need to drink more water and less soda.  Start with glass of water at one meal, then a glass of water with two meals, then all three meals, then before every glass of soda, have a glass of water first. Then with every 2 glasses of water you can have a glass of soda, and so on.  You get the picture.  Soon you will find you have cut soda out altogether.

Step 3 – Do it Every Day! 

Consistency is the name of the game!  Habit take from 18-254 days to create.  Big behavioral change habits require a lot of motivation that often can not be sustained!  

Step 4 – Make it Easy! 

Clear out the obstacles to your habit creation.  If your behavior change is getting more exercise, try setting out your workout clothes, so that you can wake up and get dressed and out of a walk first thing rather that trying to make time to get to the gym which never seems to happen.

Step 5 – Celebrate Your Success!

Rewards are an important part of behavior change and creating new habits! Set up some rewards along the way to keep that motivation going when you are successfully completing your small step habit. 

So now that you know the basics, decide now that you will not simply survive – you will thrive.  Decide that no matter what happens in the world around you, you will stay focused and committed to achieving your goals and creating healthy habits!  Decide to step up and become the person you’ve always known you were meant to be.

Need some accountability?  Join my free FB wellness group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachkimthewellnesscafe

Want to make a huge change -Decide to work with a coach.  Reach out here for a free discovery call and see if private coaching is the fit for you!