So, you are frustrated with yourself or you have just realized that to have a healthy life you must make some changes. Fostering new habits can be daunting and scary and what if you fail? I believe that if it is something you really want and you are making it a priority in your life, then you will absolutely foster this new change.
6 years ago, I decided it was finally to quit smoking after spending x amount of money for 24 years. I decided I was going to get healthier, eat better food and work my way towards a chemical free life. I am not 100% yet, but by fostering new change one step at a time, I am able to have a greater impact on my overall life.
Here’s the recipe for fostering new habits!
- Stop doubting start believing
Begin using my positive affirmations to help you gain a strong belief of that you can and you will achieve your desires with success.
- Your belief needs to be under control.
You are in control of what you will or will not believe and there for you are in charge.
- Have a plan
Believing that you can and will change something will is crucial to develop a plan of taking action. If you want to eat healthier, know that you are already on your way of doing that. You see yourself purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables versus frozen dinners. You want to be physically healthier and you see yourself exercising and know that you feel good doing it. You must believe that you already doing them, believe in yourself and find ways to help you stay accountable. After some time, the new habits you have fostered will simply part of you and not doing them seems odd.
- Align your actions steps with your plan
The actions steps need to make sense and can be accomplished. To foster these new habits. If you are planning to eat in healthier ways, then creating a meal plan and shop accordingly will be the way to go. Think consciously about the food you want to eat and purchase. Planning your meals in advance will also be great for your pocketbook. I realize that eating healthier than you think it may be more expensive. However, my personal experience is that when I plan my meals for 2 weeks and then shop accordingly including snacks etc. I have been saving money in the long run – this will also depend on the store of your choice so keep that in mind.
- Be clear and precise
Writing down the actions steps with a corresponding date will support your plan and allow you to visualize how and when things are going to change. If you can be clear with your shopping list as well as plan on where to shop and on what day, you are being clear and precise will indicate your own personal dedication to your well-being. I create a meal plan for two weeks and shop every payday 15th and last day of the month. Not only will I know what to look forward to for dinner, it prepares my family and I can visually see what I am eating too much of. It also creates room to perhaps try some new things!
- Make it happen
Do you know why you want a healthier life? Is it medical? Is it just because you are tired of eating processed food? Whatever the reason is, again as mentioned above be clear and reflect on the steps you made to help you get there – and then just make it happen. Check things off at the end of the day to help you acknowledge what you have done every single day to foster your new habit.
- Acknowledge hard days when you failed
Know that we all have a lapse and that it is ok but I will encourage you to reflect on why you lapsed, what’s behind it? Is it your own motivation, are your friends and family not on the same journey? Do you need to implement some other steps to help you along the way? Reflect but move on. Do not allow one day to impact your entire journey of fostering new habits.
I have a place for my meal planning and my exercise in my planner that I write in and then check off for progress purpose. At the end of the day, I can acknowledge that my progress is just where it needs to be because we all get to the point of where we are going at the right time. Don’t rush through it because fostering new habits is a process and takes time. We are not going to lose weight overnight and maintain a healthy body image and we are not going to go chemical free in one week. For some keeping, a journal may be more beneficial and I encourage you to do so, so you can see your own growth!
Now go be off and create new habits for a better life!
If you are daring enough, tell me in the comments what new habit you will create.
