How to create healthy habits

How many of you started a change that you didn't stick with? You exercised for 2 weeks or maybe you dieted for 10 days or kept a journal for a month....

New things are hard to stick with and there are a couple reasons why this is. First, old habits are hard to break. You've wired your brain to do things a certain way by doing them over and over again. Some things cause hormones that make you feel good to be released. Skipping over that behavior makes you feel "less good" so you keep doing that behavior.

Second, doing something the same way over and over again takes very little energy. Your body has muscle memory and uses that as you go throughout your day. How many times have you pulled out of the driveway and thought to yourself, "I hope I remembered deodorant today!" That's because your body is so used to grabbing the stick of deodorant and applying it during your morning routine that you don't even recall the behavior.

To create new habits there are a few strategies you should use to increase your chances of success. First, make sure you are motivated to actually change. It seems obvious but you'd be surprise how many people (including myself) have attempted to change behaviors they didn't really care that much about changing. Second, remind yourself often about your motivations to make a new habit. Keeping that goal and your "why" in front of you will help you stick with it even when you don't feel like it. Lastly, say your goal out loud. Telling people about it and specifically telling someone that will hold you accountable will greatly increase your chance of successfully making the new behavior a habit.

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