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I’ve mentioned before that I don’t really do new years resolutions. I will focus on a word or phrase each year, but I try to live an overall healthy lifestyle every day of the year. That doesn’t mean that I don’t get busy and make unhealthy choices sometimes. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, but I do prefer to live a healthy lifestyle and make it a habit every day. Healthy habits are things we do that we don’t even have to think about. They are a habit, and we do them consistently. That is how I like my healthy living to be.
But how do you create a habit? They say it takes 4-8 weeks to build a habit. If you do something long enough, you will get used to it and it will become a habit. Like brushing your teeth first thing in the morning, applying sunscreen and moisturizer, washing your makeup off at night, etc. These are habits. And I want to add more healthy habits.
Below I am sharing 10 tips to help yourself build healthy habits. Keep reading and let me know if you have any great tips on making healthy habits stick.
How to Build Healthy Habits
1.) Identify what healthy habits you want to build and set very specific goals. You can’t just say I want to eat healthily. That is subjective. What is healthy for you? How often? Be specific with what you want to make a habit.
2.) Identify patterns of how you have gotten off course in the past. We all get off course sometimes. And we typically have patterns of what leads up off course. Identify those patterns and triggers so that you can help to avoid them.
3.) Make a plan of what you intend to do and how you plan to avoid your unhealthy patterns. Do you know what your unhealthy patterns are, now what do you plan to do to avoid them? Or to get back on course once you go south? Making a plan is crucial.
4.) Be aware of your surroundings. Looking to eat gluten-free? Get rid of the gluten (here’s a delicious recipe, too!). Looking to cut down on alcohol, put it away or get rid of it. Wanting to get rid of negativity? Surround yourself with glass-half-full friends.
5.) Be consistent. A habit became a habit because you consistently did it over and over every day, every week, every month. Be consistent with what you are doing.
6.) Find accountability. Wanting to work out 4 days a week? Find a workout buddy, an online group, or even an app. Check-in and keep yourself accountable.
7.) Track your progress. How can you measure how far you’ve come and how much further you have to go if you don’t track those things? Know where you began and where you plan to end up. Plus, it is super gratifying.
8.) Give it time. All good things take time, especially when building habits. It won’t take a day or a week. Put in the time.
9.) Move past setbacks. Remember above? You have already planned for the setbacks, so move past it. It didn’t ruin anything. It’s not all or nothing. Move past it and plan for your next day.
10.) Reward yourself. Everyone loves positive reinforcement, right? Reward yourself for sticking to what you wanted to…for building that healthy habit. And I don’t mean by doing the opposite of your healthy habit. Trying to impulse buy less and reached your goal? Get an inexpensive classic closet staple that you don’t have and will use a lot. Wanting to workout at least 4 days a week? Get a new sports bra or a new pair of sneakers? Don’t go overboard though. It’s all about moderation. A reward could even be a compliment to yourself or a half day off. Whatever seems rewarding to you, do it when you have reached your goals.
What are the healthy habits you’re trying to build this year?
