“I want to get in better shape.”
“I want to start exercising daily.”
“I want to stop late-night snacking.”
“I want to start meditating.”
I hear these statements EVERY day from my various clients.
Someone wants to START doing something or someone wants to STOP doing another thing… but they just can’t seem to get started or stick to it.
Why is it so hard to develop a GOOD habit… and even harder to stop a BAD one?
It’s because GOOD habits have no instant gratification and the rewards take time to show up.
BAD habits, on the other hand, give us instant gratification and the consequences show up later.
When you join a gym and work out once or twice, you are either intimidated by the equipment or sore after one workout. You don’t see the immediate changes in your body, so you lose your motivation to go back.
When you deny yourself that ice cream after dinner and don’t wake up 10 pounds lighter, you are more likely to just eat the dessert.
When you are learning to meditate, you might feel anxious, bored, or fidgety. Why would you bother doing that again when you could be playing Wordle or scrolling through social media?
Habits are not just about self-control or self-discipline. Habits are created in the brain, and there is actual science to creating a good habit or quitting a bad one.
One of the secrets of starting a new habit is to make it EASY, keep it simple, and attach it to an existing habit you already have.
For example, if you already have a morning coffee habit, and want to start drinking more water, try drinking one glass of water BEFORE you have your first cup of coffee.
If you want to learn to meditate, try listening to a short guided meditation for five minutes right after your cup of coffee.
If you want to start working out more, pick something you WANT to do. If you like walking, find someone to walk with.
If you want to try yoga, find a beginner’s class and go with a friend.
f you hate working out but like to dance, then take a dance class. Just make it fun!!
Developing good habits and quitting bad ones, doesn’t have to be like climbing Mount Everest.
You can make a difference by making small changes every day.
If you want to learn more about the ways to create new habits, listen to today’s episode of The OverThinker’s Guide to Joy by clicking here or on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
TINY habits can result in BIG changes.
Happy Wednesday!
xo, Jackie
P.S. If you need help creating new healthy habits and making changes, reach out to me for a consultation here. I would love to help.
