If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that I feel strongly that lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. What finally got me on the road out of obesity was not big, major changes, but focusing on smaller ones aka changing my habits.
The Power of Healthy Habits
Healthy habits are the cornerstone of sustainable change. They provide a sturdy foundation upon which you can build a healthier, happier life. When I talk about healthy habits, I mean consistent actions and behaviors that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This could include regular exercise, balanced nutrition, enough sleep, and taking care of your overall wellness.
Why Healthy Habits Matter
- Consistency Leads to Progress
- One of the key reasons healthy habits are important is that they create consistency. This consistency helps to form routines, making healthy choices almost automatic. Over time, these small, consistent actions accumulate, leading to significant improvements in health and well-being.
- Small Changes, Big Impact
- When trying to make a significant change, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. However, by breaking it down into manageable habits, the process becomes more approachable. For instance, swapping a sugary snack for a piece of fruit, or committing to a 10-minute walk each day, can have a profound impact over time.
- Building Momentum
- Establishing healthy habits builds momentum. As you start to see and feel the benefits of these small changes, you become more motivated to continue and expand upon them. This positive reinforcement cycle can lead to a lasting lifestyle transformation.
- Improved Physical Health
- Healthy habits directly contribute to improved physical health. Regular physical activity strengthens the heart and muscles and gives you longevity! Eating a balanced diet provides essential nutrients that your body craves and thrives with!
- Mental and Emotional Benefits
- Healthy habits are not just about physical health; they also significantly impact mental and emotional well-being. Regular exercise, for example, is known to reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function.
How to Establish Healthy Habits
- Start Small: Begin with small, achievable goals. This makes it easier to stick to new habits and gradually build on them. I tell clients all the time, make the goal almost TOO easy at first. The small change will lead to more as you go!
- Be Consistent: Consistency is key. Try to perform your new habits at the same time each day to reinforce them.
- Get Annoying to Get Consistent: New actions (especially when they are small) can be tough to remember. Have something that reminds you to keep doing your habit like an alarm on your phone or a reminder in your calendar.
- Track Your Progress: Keep a journal or use an app to track your habits. This helps you stay accountable and see your progress over time.
- Find Support: Surround yourself with supportive friends or family that will cheer you on and encourage you to keep going!
- Be Patient: Remember that change takes time. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small victories along the way.
Join the 6 Weeks to Healthier Habits Challenge
If you want more help and support, I’m running a challenge all about creating healthy change called the 6 Weeks to Healthier Habits Challenge.
The Challenge includes:
- Custom challenge information videos
- Weekly assignments and guidance to keep you on track with the challenge
- FREE access to the Level Wellness app and all the resources 24/7
- A custom in-app habit tracker
- A private accountability group for challenge participants
- Unlimited 1-on-1 messaging with me
- Option to track metrics like measurements, weight, and photos
- In-app meal tracker
- Healthy eating reference guide
- Flexibility to work on the goal that’s important to YOU
And if you sign up before 7/30, I’ll provide you with a FREE Goal Setting PDF to keep and use when the challenge ends.
The challenge begins August 12th.
SIGN UP now to start your journey towards healthier habits!
Photo credit to Jason Briscoe
