How To Develop Healthy Habits That Stick
How To Develop Healthy Habits That Stick
It can be frustrating to maintain healthy habits once you start. It takes work! It’s easy to maintain habits in the short term but what motivates people to stay committed for the long term? How do some people stay motivated and consistent with their actions while others start and stop like nobody’s business? This article will show you how to maintain the habits you’ve developed, no matter what tempts you to throw in the towel. Let’s dive in to find out what it takes to maintain healthy habits instead of giving up.
Commit, Don’t Try
This is the first lesson in building the mental strength necessary to maintain any healthy habit – spiritual, physical, mental or emotional. Think of how empowered you feel when you say the word “try.” Feels pretty weak, doesn’t it? Now try saying the word “committed.” How much more likely are you to stick to your habits if you commit to them rather than try to take daily action?
Upgrade your Standard
What will you no longer settle for? This is one question that I asked myself that has produced amazing results! Write a list of all the things in your life you are no longer willing to settle for. Keep it in a place where you’ll read it often. Remind yourself of your new standard and you’ll soon find yourself a changed person – motivated to stick with the habits you originally committed to.
Increase the Pain. Picture yourself in the future. What will your life look like if you fall into old ways of living? How will you feel about yourself? Once you’ve developed a picture of the worst version of yourself in your unwanted situation, continue to remind yourself of the pain that visual produces. You need to increase the level of pain you associate with your old ways of behaving. The other option is to amp up the pleasure you experience from your new habits and focus on the pleasure the habits produce when you’re tempted to slip back into old habits.
Increase Accountability. Put your habits on your calendar. Tell people about your new way of living. Accountability holds power. There’s something about writing out your goals and habits ON YOUR CALENDAR that makes them important. Just like you would write down a doctors appointment or your child’s school performance on the calendar, you need to write down your new habits (and make time for them) so that your brain remembers how important they are.
What helps YOU maintain healthy habits? I want to know!
Amy Englemark teaches strategies to Boost Health, Wealth and Free Time to Entrepreneurs, Community and Business Leaders. Get Amy’s 3 Step System to Boost your Time and Productivity at: www.amyenglemark.com . For Proven Tools to zap stress, free up your time and boost your income, Like Amy Englemark Coaching on Facebook and Follow her on LinkedIn at: Amy Englemark.
