The art of creating healthy habits and sticking to them

How often have you had all good intentions of starting a new healthy habit, only to find yourself giving up at the first hurdle?

Forming healthy habits is not always easy, and sticking to them can be the hardest part. I speak from experience. I am not going to pretend I am perfect, far from it! I have my challenges like everyone else, but I have noticed some interesting patterns along the way, and I want to share them with you so we can learn and grow together.

When I start a new habit it is generally because it will be good for me, and it is something that will be a long-term benefit, like exercise, or healthy eating. I start with good intentions, thinking it is a great idea and it will just slot right into my life like magic. But sometimes it does not, and then I beat myself up for not being consistent, or doing what I said I would.

What I have learned from this is that I don't really plan to make the habit stick. For example, let's say I want to include a midday walk into my weekly routine a few days a week. It helps me break up my day, get out in nature, and get my steps in, and it also provides me with time to reflect and generate new ideas. Success! I find that calendar blocking helps me, so I schedule it into my calendar. Done, midday walks are now a thing.....in my calendar. What could possibly go wrong?

It doesn't happen. Maybe once in the week, but not as I had intended. Ah, I failed again.

Due to the lack of planning, I did not consider what was happening before that, how long it might take, and what was coming up later in the day that I might need to prepare for. So it goes down to the bottom of my priority list, and it doesn't happen.

I also don't consider how much of a priority this is to me before I do it. I just think it will magically happen tomorrow instead. Have you ever done this? We can often prioritise our own well-being lower than other tasks because we think we can do it another time. We know that we should always put on our oxygen mask first before helping others, but how often do we actually do this?

Another thing that I have noticed is that for me to stick to something, it has to be simple and enjoyable. This is what motivates me to actually do it. That might sound obvious to some, but you will be surprised how often this comes up with clients too. We all have tasks in our day that may not be simple and fun, but for it to feel possible and to actually take action, we need to be motivated to do it.

What motivates you to take action? Maybe it's a reward once you have completed the action. Maybe it's listening to your favourite playlist while doing it, or maybe it's something completely different. You need to consider what works for you because motivation is not one size fits all. We are all unique and let's embrace that.

From my experience and repeated setbacks, I have learned that if you are thinking of starting a new healthy habit, it is helpful to consider the following before you start a new habit:

• What is your why for starting this new habit? If you don't have a good reason backed with motivation and purpose then why and how are you going to make this new habit a priority in the first place? How will this new habit impact your life? What are the benefits? Getting clear on your why is key.

• Don't forget to plan it into your schedule. How much time will it take you? When will you do it? What are the steps you need to take? Answering these questions will help you form a more realistic plan for success.

• How much of a priority is this for you right now? Is this something you think you should do? Or is it something that you want or need to do? What might happen if you don't do this?

• Start small. This one is always a winner for me, and one of my key takeaways from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. Please don't go all in and end up feeling disappointed if you don't succeed straight away. That is a motivation killer. What is one small action you could take that will help you get started with this habit?

• What are you doing already that can help you with this habit? Is there something you can do at the same time as this new habit that will help you take action? What has worked for you with other habits?

• How will you stay accountable? Sometimes just telling someone you're going to do something increases your chances of success. For example, going to the gym with a friend might increase your accountability as you don't want to let them down. What keeps you accountable?

Habits are continuous and require discipline and effort. While we may not always show up as we intend to, it doesn't mean we can't build healthy habits. Getting clear on why this new habit needs to be in your life, and making time for it will increase your chances of establishing long-lasting healthy habits. These are my learnings and what has been working for me, I hope this helps you too.

If you would like some support with your well-being and building your healthy habits, get in touch today, and let's chat about how I can help you with your goals and dreams.