How to Start New Habits
Let’s talk about how to start new habits. We all have times in our lives where we intentionally want to change our behavior for the better and create new habits for ourselves. For me, that time is now.
Food and Exercise Journal 2016 Weekly Food & Workout Diary: You Got This
&
I’m working on creating new habits for myself and I think it has finally become a priority for me. I think it will help both myself, as well as my family. Your habits could be anything from getting in the habit of eating healthier and drinking more water. Or it could be moving more and taking the dog for a daily walk. Or maybe you want to work smarter, not harder. There are so many areas in our lives that could be improved and made easier if we created new habits.
Getting into the habit of doing something is often easier said than done. Bad habits are easy to get into it, but getting into a “good” habit can be a bit more challenging.
Let’s break it down into a three step process that makes it easy to follow until we’ve internalized the new behavior and made it a true habit – something we do automatically without having to think about, like brushing our teeth.
Decide What You Want To Do
The first step is to decide what you want that new habit to be. Don’t just say “get healthy”, or “drink more water”. Be specific. Don’t just tell yourself you want to exercise more. Instead, say something like “I will go for a 30-minute walk every single day”. Deciding what your new habit will be and commit to when and how you’re going to do it, is half the battle.
Remind Yourself To Get It Done
The next few days should be smooth sailing. You’re motivated and excited to get this done. Sticking to your new habit isn’t an issue. But a few days in you’ll notice that it’s easy to slip back into old habits.
Maybe it’s raining and you don’t really want to go out and walk. Or maybe your day just gets away from you. This is when it’s important to have a daily reminder. Set an alert on your phone or add the new habit to your daily to-do list for a while. A tracker like the Fitbit is a great reminder and motivator to get moving!
Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband, Black, LargeFitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch, Blue, Silver, LargeFitbit Alta Fitness Tracker, Silver/Black, SmallFitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker, Black
&
Make It Part Of Your Routine Until It Becomes A Habit
It takes some time before a new behavior becomes a habit. Until then you will need to stick to a routine. Even before the new behavior becomes automatic, a routine will help you get it done without having to rely on daily reminders.
Make that daily walk part of your after dinner routine, or change from grabbing a snack at the vending machine at work at 10:00 in the morning to packing a healthy snack.
Hydr-8 32oz. Car Friendly Time Marked Water Bottle – PurpleAterlin 400ML Intelligent Induction Drinking Cup Sound Touch Sense Electronic Induction Temperature Display Practical Water Bottles Time Reminder Smart Cups (Hot Pink)WATER GOALS (TM) By WaterMarks (TM) – All Purpose, DS001, Hydration Reminders, Water Bottle Decals, Custom or Standard Placement (Copyright) (Pumpkin)PYRUS 320ml Portable Smart Cup Health Sensor 8 times Drinking Reminder Alarm with LED Screen Display Creative Intelligent Water Bottle
&
Congratulations! Decide to create the new habit, practice the routine until it’s second nature and you’ll be well on your way to forming a new good habit.
Girl on Fire
Latest posts by Girl on Fire (see all)
- Hey, it’s been a minute… - April 14, 2025
- Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment - January 25, 2023
- How to Help Family With Mental Health Issues? - January 3, 2023
[…] run or evening gym session you find yourself hiding under the duvet instead. However, in summer, you have no excuse. When it’s beautiful weather outside you should be up and about, being active and having fun in […]