How to create good habits for a better life!
Have you ever thought about how to make a lifestyle change? Hmmm….think about that for a second. We rarely stand up and decide “I am going to make a lifestyle change!” Our lifestyle is dictated more by small changes over time, that etch and carve their way into our current, schedule, life, and being. Think about life right after college, you didn’t just instantly adapt to a corporate lifestyle. No you still tried to get your Friday night party on and keep the weekends for fun. But after missing a promotion because you were one too many times late to work, you probably got your life in check. Think about how your life 5 years into your corporate career looks as opposed to your life the first 5 weeks.
Having kids? We have a built in lifestyle adaptation process. When you are pregnant you are large and miserable and not sleeping. Not to mention that 24 hours a day there are changes happening to your body! Your husband is nervous and anxious, you don’t eat as late as you used to. All to prepare for the little one’s arrival.
So why then do we as a society make the mistake of creating a New Years Resolution that is doomed to fail?? What’s worse is that we all spend the 2 weeks before Christmas and New Years Day blowing the doors off of ANY type of clean eating and/or activity routine. Then we leave it all up to the myth that on Jan 2nd, we will starting strong with a resolution! Yeah, right. That rarely EVER works. And why? Because it is not how change happens.
BJ Fogg is an amazing behavioral psychologist out of Standford who has done thousands off studies on change and behavior. He has found that tiny, small changes over time make the ultimate life impact.
Do you drink too much coffee and not enough water? Then pour your coffee to 3/4 of your normal amount and then immediately fill a cup with 1/4 cup of water. Seems ridiculous right? Stay with me….drink the water first and then the coffee. Over time bring it to half and half. What you will find is that by stimulating your thirst receptors with water first, over time you will crave more water, and by putting it immediately coupled with a habit you already have you are more likely to make it stick.
When you are at work push send on that email and immediately stand up and walk around the office once, this takes 15-45 seconds (depending on how large your office) and when done 10 times a day will burn calories, keep your blood flowing, your productivity high, and your muscles moving. It will also start to spark that fire for a longer more challenging fitness habit.
Maybe you aren’t ready for the gym, but you can certainly finish the dishes and then skip watching “The Bachelor” (Ohhh the horror of missing a show!) and go for a 20 minute walk with your spouse or kids.
As you do these things over time you are preparing yourself psychologically, physically, and habitually to make greater, longer lasting changes!
Have questions about your health and fitness? Comment below!
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Thank you for writing this. I’ve been trying to get myself motivated to change up a lot of bad habits and after reading this it helped.
I have always wanted to change my lifestyle and drop those bad habit but never felt motivated enough to get started.
Reading this truly helped. Thank you so much!