We are all creatures of habit. We tend to wake up at the same time, brush our teeth, have our morning coffee and rush out the door, following the same patterns every day. So why is it so hard to build new healthy habits? We typically make bold resolutions without taking the necessary steps needed to set ourselves up for success. Here are our favourite tips on how to build healthy habits!
The Healthy Habits…
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Know Your Current Habits
Regular things you do – from brushing your teeth to having a few drinks at the end of the night – can become habits. If you struggle to fall asleep at night, read about the best sleep tips to help you get into a good night routine. The first step to change your behavior is to create awareness around what you do regularly. You can develop ways to disrupt those patterns and create new ones.
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Make a Plan
Create a plan that includes small, reasonable goals and specific actions you can take to move toward them. Think of what you need to be successful. How can you change things around you to support your goals?
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Stay on Track
Doing good things for yourself can be exciting and rewarding. There will be times where you wonder if you can stick to it. Identify negative thoughts and turn them into realistic, productive ones. Keep record with a journal or document to help you track what you're doing.
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Think About the Future
Some people have a harder time to resist their impulses. This can lead to negative impacts. You can learn to postpone immediate gratification through episodic future thinking or imagining future positive experiences. It's a good way to strengthen your ability to make decisions that are better for you in the long run.
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Be Patient
Sometimes it's hard to adopt healthier habits, when other things can get in the way. You're never too out of shape, too overweight, or too old to make healthy changes in your life. Try different strategies until you find what works for you.