When you make those healthy changes with DayTwo, doesn’t it feel so good? The change, the progress, the benefits! You might ask yourself; how do I keep this going, how can I make this a habit for life? How do I keep self-care a priority? Follow these simple steps to help you create your next habit:
- Take a look at your current habits. Are there some habits you want to change? Or are there some new ones you want to make? Make a list and rank them by importance to you.
- Choose one habit to work on. No matter how long your list ends up being – just choose one. Habits take time, effort, and repetition. The more you can focus and spend time doing this one thing, the more successful you will be.
- Start by making the habit tiny and easy. Start with something low effort so it is easy to do. Try attaching one habit to another habit you already do. For example, brushing your teeth in the morning – do squats while you brush your teeth. Or add two to four baby carrots to your lunch every day. Whatever you do, start small and build up.
- Be specific about when, where, and how. Habits, good or bad, are almost always attached to something else. Instead of afternoon cookies, how about an afternoon fruit and cheese tray? Not exercising because of time? Why not put on ankle weights for automatic exercise throughout the day? Stress eating after work? How about calling a friend, or family member, after work instead to talk out your feelings?
- Do it often. The more frequently you do something, the faster it will become a habit. If you only do it a few times a week, it may not stick.
- Be realistic. Set yourself up for success by making sure what you expect to happen is realistic. If you are trying to do something that seems too hard, you may give up. If you do find something is not working, try revising your plan.
- Reward yourself. Find ways to reward yourself while doing your habit, or after. Riding the stationary bike? Why not watch your favorite tv show while doing it? Want to try out a healthy restaurant, take a friend with you and enjoy some social time?
- Track your progress. Keep track of where you started and how your journey is progressing. What do you want to see, what measurements are important? This could be the days you’ve done your habit, reps, inches, weight, labs, mood, etc.
- Expect setbacks. Life can get in the way even when we have the best plans. If things don’t work out the way you expect, learn from it and get back on track. We all find speedbumps along our journey.
- Stay Focused. If this habit is important to you, keep your eye on the prize. Why did you choose it? What will it look/feel like when this becomes a habit? What will it look/feel like if it doesn’t?