How to build habits that turn into a lifestyle.
It’s the start of a new year, and it is tempting to make a list of resolutions in a new year and try to make drastic changes to your life.
How many times have you tried to lose weight, try to go to bed earlier, or start exercising, only to fall off the bandwagon a few weeks in?
A few years ago I wanted to become a fit, healthy, strong person, and I have tried many times before to make big changes, but nothing ever lasted.
It wasn’t until I started doing some research on building habits in my life, that it helped me make small changes, that eventually lead to big changes.
So, how did I build habits that help lead to a healthy lifestyle?
1. Write it down
Its so important when you are starting a new habit to “write it down”. Its good to have the intention to build a habit, but when you write in down, it helps you remember it and hopefully so that you will do it.
I achieved this by buying a weekly calendar, and writing down everything I had on for the week, and wrote in the exercise I was going to do. At first I started out by doing a quick, short walk 2-3 times a week. Then I started doing a walk in the morning, and a walk in the afternoon. Then exercise become a part of my daily routine and now I am a healthy, fit person.
2. Be consistent
When you are building a habit in your life, its essential that you start with one thing at a time and make it easy to do. As you do that habit, over time, it will become apart of your lifestyle. A great way to continue building habits in your life is to be consistent. Tell a close friend or work colleague the habit you are building in your life, and ask them to call you once a week to keep you accountable.
3. Small wins, lead to a great life
Pick 3 key areas you want to focus on improving this year and one at a time, start to build habits in those areas. You might choose to focus on your fitness, your finances and your health. Write down the habits you need to form, to help you build health in those areas, to help you become a wealthy, fit, strong person. Changing your life starts one small habit at a time. So, just start small, focus on one thing, write it down, be accountable, and if you fall off the bandwagon with your habits, just pick yourself back up and start again.
Building one small habit at a time helped me change my lifestyle and its significantly impacted my overall wellbeing because of those changes.
What habit do you need to start today to help you build the lifestyle you want?