At some point or another, you’ve probably wanted to improve your diet, pick up a new hobby or get in shape. And chances are you didn’t stick to it long enough to see results. So why is it so hard to form new healthy habits?
It all comes down to neuroscience and the way our brains behave.
When you engage in a new behavior, your brain creates connections called neural pathways. When you repeat the behavior, you use the same pathway over and over again until it becomes a habit - experts call these changes “neuroplasticity.”
The problem is the human brain prefers the path of least resistance, and as a result, we’re biased towards perceiving anything challenging to be less appealing.
But by mobilizing our thoughts and practicing new ways of thinking, we can rewire our brains and create new, positive habits that can improve our lives.
Today we’ll be sharing with you seven strategies that will help you adopt healthy habits in a sustainable way.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to form a new habit is taking on too much, too quickly. For example, if you want to start running, which goal is more achievable? Training for a 5k marathon or taking a daily 10-minute jog? The answer is obvious.
While setting ambitious goals can give you a sense of purpose, it can be difficult to sustain. Setting small incremental changes, however, can make it easier to adapt to a new habit and better set you up for success.
Setting goals gives you a long-term vision, but planning allows you to organize your time and your resources toward the desired outcome.
Let’s stick with the running analogy. What steps can you take to ensure it happens? Do you have the proper gear? Have you identified a safe running route and created a training schedule to fit your lifestyle? There are lots of things you can do to facilitate new habits. Plan ahead to make your task as easy as possible to start. Don’t forget to write it down.
Creating a new habit isn’t always easy – there are a number of forces that can stand in the way – other people, forgetfulness, procrastination, tiredness, boredom, crisis, etc. The best way to overcome these obstacles is to pre-plan solutions before they come up.
For example, if you keep forgetting your running schedule, set up reminders on your phone to keep you posted. Feeling tired or bored? Show up and give your workout 10 minutes and see how you feel then. Odds are you’ll be out of that funk and want to finish your run.
Anticipate any barriers and be prepared to counter them head-on.
When you’re trying to form a healthy habit, at times, you might feel like you’re not making the kind of progress you want and might even want to hang in the towel. In those moments, take time to reconnect with your why. Ask yourself why it is worth devoting yourself fully to it. Will it help you live longer, improve your stamina and boost your esteem?
Find that deeper motivator to draw on even when the enjoyment of the process isn’t enough.
Forming new habits takes time and discipline, and there’ll be bumps along the way. When you slip up, accept that you’re not perfect, and don’t beat yourself up for it. Instead, follow failure with success by picking back up where you left off. Put all of your focus and energy on not missing twice so you can build consistency.
To improve your odds of sticking to a new habit, find someone to keep you in check. An accountability partner can be a much-needed source of motivation, strength, and support. They can give you insights into your progress and give you advice on improvement. When you finally achieve your goals, you’ll have someone with whom to share your happiness and success.
Taking time to celebrate your progress, whether big or small, is essential. This way, you develop more trust and confidence in your abilities and get the motivation to go further. Each win builds your confidence and reinforces your “I can do this” mentality.
Remember to celebrate in meaningful ways that align with your goals.
Creating healthy habits is important for keeping you happy, productive and improving your overall wellness. Even so, putting them into practice is not always that simple. If you’ve failed to meet your goals in the past, these tips can help you implement new healthy habits with less effort.
At some point or another, you’ve probably wanted to improve your diet, pick up a new hobby or get in shape. And chances are you didn’t stick to it long enough to see results. So why is it so hard to form new healthy habits?
It all comes down to neuroscience and the way our brains behave.
At some point or another, you’ve probably wanted to improve your diet, pick up a new hobby or get in shape. And chances are you didn’t stick to it long enough to see results. So why is it so hard to form new healthy habits?
It all comes down to neuroscience and the way our brains behave.
When you engage in a new behavior, your brain creates connections called neural pathways. When you repeat the behavior, you use the same pathway over and over again until it becomes a habit - experts call these changes “neuroplasticity.”
The problem is the human brain prefers the path of least resistance, and as a result, we’re biased towards perceiving anything challenging to be less appealing.
But by mobilizing our thoughts and practicing new ways of thinking, we can rewire our brains and create new, positive habits that can improve our lives.
Today we’ll be sharing with you seven strategies that will help you adopt healthy habits in a sustainable way.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to form a new habit is taking on too much, too quickly. For example, if you want to start running, which goal is more achievable? Training for a 5k marathon or taking a daily 10-minute jog? The answer is obvious.
While setting ambitious goals can give you a sense of purpose, it can be difficult to sustain. Setting small incremental changes, however, can make it easier to adapt to a new habit and better set you up for success.
Setting goals gives you a long-term vision, but planning allows you to organize your time and your resources toward the desired outcome.
Let’s stick with the running analogy. What steps can you take to ensure it happens? Do you have the proper gear? Have you identified a safe running route and created a training schedule to fit your lifestyle? There are lots of things you can do to facilitate new habits. Plan ahead to make your task as easy as possible to start. Don’t forget to write it down.
Creating a new habit isn’t always easy – there are a number of forces that can stand in the way – other people, forgetfulness, procrastination, tiredness, boredom, crisis, etc. The best way to overcome these obstacles is to pre-plan solutions before they come up.
For example, if you keep forgetting your running schedule, set up reminders on your phone to keep you posted. Feeling tired or bored? Show up and give your workout 10 minutes and see how you feel then. Odds are you’ll be out of that funk and want to finish your run.
Anticipate any barriers and be prepared to counter them head-on.
When you’re trying to form a healthy habit, at times, you might feel like you’re not making the kind of progress you want and might even want to hang in the towel. In those moments, take time to reconnect with your why. Ask yourself why it is worth devoting yourself fully to it. Will it help you live longer, improve your stamina and boost your esteem?
Find that deeper motivator to draw on even when the enjoyment of the process isn’t enough.
Forming new habits takes time and discipline, and there’ll be bumps along the way. When you slip up, accept that you’re not perfect, and don’t beat yourself up for it. Instead, follow failure with success by picking back up where you left off. Put all of your focus and energy on not missing twice so you can build consistency.
To improve your odds of sticking to a new habit, find someone to keep you in check. An accountability partner can be a much-needed source of motivation, strength, and support. They can give you insights into your progress and give you advice on improvement. When you finally achieve your goals, you’ll have someone with whom to share your happiness and success.
Taking time to celebrate your progress, whether big or small, is essential. This way, you develop more trust and confidence in your abilities and get the motivation to go further. Each win builds your confidence and reinforces your “I can do this” mentality.
Remember to celebrate in meaningful ways that align with your goals.
Creating healthy habits is important for keeping you happy, productive and improving your overall wellness. Even so, putting them into practice is not always that simple. If you’ve failed to meet your goals in the past, these tips can help you implement new healthy habits with less effort.
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