How to Make Healthy Habits Stick

Don’t go it alone.  Reach out and talk to someone.  Get a workout buddy.  Look for support groups or classes.  Tell a friend or family member about you plan.  Having support can help keep on track.  Sharing your challenges and successes makes the work easier and less scary, too.

It’s tough to change too many things at once.  It takes time to form bad habits, but also takes time to replace them with good ones.  Conquer one habit, then move on to the next.

Studies show that by midyear, less than half had kept their January promises.  With the right attitude and approach, you can improve your own odds.

Everyone has lapses when trying to build a healthy habit.  It’s part of the process.  It doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

Forgive yourself for dropping the ball.  Use it as a chance to learn your triggers.  Can you handle being around friends who are smoking when you’re trying to quit?  If not, avoid those situations.  Learn from your mistakes, and move on.

Rewards, however small, can motivate you.  They remind you of your progress and make things more fun.

For short-term goals, rewards should be simple, like going to a movie, getting a manicure, or buying a pair of shoes.  Give yourself larger rewards for reaching bigger goals, like buying a piece of jewelry or taking a vacation.

Many people believe change can be cemented in 21 days, but research shows it’s not that simple.  For some, creating a habit can take 2 months or more.

Don’t be discouraged that things aren’t happening faster.  It doesn’t mean you won’t get there.  It takes time for the brain to make a new routine second nature.

When you create your goals in a positive way and use terms that focus on behavior you want to build, you are more likely to succeed.  It’s often easier to build a new habit than to quit a bad one.

Bypassing your bad habit for short amounts of time will help build your confidence that you can let it go permanently.  If you can do it easily, make the challenge a little harder until you reach your goal.  For example, if you cut the habit 1 day a week, try to go for 2 days next.

Big-scale goals can frustrate you and may make you give up.  Break them down into several smaller, easier ones.  And list the steps for each.  To lose 1 pound a week, you could try replacing dessert with fruit, for example.

Keep track of how you are doing.  People who do are more likely to succeed.