I’m going to show you five easy steps to start a healthy habit that can transform your life. Starting a healthy habit can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s eating better, exercising, or stopping a bad habit, making a permanent change requires effort and discipline. But the results are well worth it. I’ll show you how easy it can be and how this change could easily influence other changes.
1. Make it SMART
Make it a SMART goal! Be sure this new habit is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-based.
If your healthy habit goal is to start working out, be specific about it and start easy with something like jogging or walking (specific) for 45 minutes (measurable) three times a week (time-based).
With some additional steps, this habit can also be attainable, realistic, and time-based. Take some time and come up with a list of ideas containing pros and cons of each potential new habit. Think about which are the most likely to be attainable and the timeframe for each.
Maybe your new healthy habit is eating the right amount of vegetables every day or increasing your fiber intake. That’s an easy goal to make specific if you know exactly how much of what to eat daily.
If your healthy habit is to remove a bad habit altogether, that is also very specific and you are already on the right track. The action or activity must be clear and you must know what it is that will change.
Replacing a bad habit with a new healthy habit will take time, but be specific about what will change and how you will measure success. If it’s weight loss, specify how much and then measure your progress on a scale (or by size).
Know that results will take time, especially for more aggressive goals. Try to start small, slow, and easy for the first goal.
Also make sure your habit is achievable. Think about the time you have available and anything that might get between you and your habit goal.
Consider what other things you will need to change or do to make it smart of your routine and a reality. Will others be part of it or have to adjust their routines to adapt? Will others be affected in any way?
If you plan to go to the gym, how far will you have to go? How will traffic be at the time you plan to go? How will this affect other parts of your routine? Would it be better to start with a home based workout using a video or an app?
Consider these questions when planning your new routine and how you can really make it achievable.
Tip: Consider making a meal plan. This is an easy routine that you can look forward to and keep track of. Later, add a new exercise to your routine and make the meal plan complement your workout routine.
2. Make it Routine
The foundation of all habits is routine. Think about your current routine and where this new habit fits or what it will replace. Set an alarm clock for your new habit or switch time slots with a bad one.
The more often and consistently you do something, the easier it is to make it a habit.
Visualize yourself doing this in your current routine. At first, you will have to make a conscious effort, but eventually, it will become routine and your new healthy habit will be effortless.
Your new healthy habit can and should be part of your long term goals. This will help you and others prioritize your efforts. This could also help you to include other healthy habits in the future.
Find an online group or join others that have similar goals that can encourage your long term progress.
Maybe it won’t happen immediately, but you will most certainly inspire others to start a healthy habit and join you in your new success.
Your positivity will radiate as you see the results, and your new routine will be a regular part of you. Your motivation will motivate others and you will be reminded of your original purpose for setting this goal.
Tip: If creating a meal plan, mark your calendar for one day of the week to plan the meals, get the necessary products, and prepare them for the week. Each week, this will be part of your new routine and will become a healthy habit.
3. Set Milestones
When you set milestones, you can celebrate the small wins and reinforce the habit as it becomes realistic. Successful milestones are highly motivating and necessary internal achievements.
Create a journal or integrate the milestone into a calendar alert to recognize your progression.
Visualize yourself achieving these milestones in the future.
When you visualize it, you are reinforcing the healthy habit and ensuring it will take place in the future. Doing this also tells your subconscious it is going to happen, and sure enough, it likely will.
A milestone is a goal that can be achievable if you keep the SMART goal method in mind and keep it within reach.
You can make more goals to follow later so it’s not so overwhelming, but make each milestone a small step in the right direction. Also make sure to keep the actual goal itself attainable so the milestone is attainable.
Reward yourself, but don’t overdo it. Don’t reward yourself with anything that will take you off track or take away from your progress. Separate the reward from your new healthy habit.
For example, if your new habit is to work out three times a week, don’t reward yourself by removing one of the workouts or changing any part of that routine.
Reward yourself with something like a relaxing massage or a 30 minute meditation session.
Tip: If creating a weekly meal plan, for instance, set a milestone for two weeks out. By this time, you should have worked out the issues experienced the first week and by the second week, it should start to be part of your routine. Celebrate your healthy habit achievement and set another milestone for four weeks out.
4. Plan to Overcome Setbacks
Have a plan to help yourself through the setbacks. You are human and life sometimes gets in the way of your plans. You are resilient and you will overcome these setbacks.
When you encounter a setback, plan to continue where you left off as soon as possible and at the next scheduled time. This will happen and probably more than once.
A healthy habit is part of a routine and there are times your routine is going to be disrupted. This doesn’t mean the habit should end or that it can’t get back on track.
This is a mindset and takes focus and discipline. Stick with it and set another milestone to get you back on track little steps at a time.
Don’t overanalyze what went wrong or blame yourself or use previous failures as an excuse to quit this goal.
Think about how you can prevent future occurrences, but believe in yourself that this was not the new you.
Maybe you need a new plan, a new focus, or a minor adjustment. Maybe you need more motivation or just the right motivation.
Thinking critically will help you adjust with objectivity and honesty with yourself.
Tip: If your plan has a setback, have a plan to start yourself back on track by setting a specific date it will begin again. If your habit was a meal plan and you had to travel, resume the meal planning on your regularly scheduled day.
5. Ensure Accountability
Be accountable for yourself. Use willpower and the power of positive thinking to push yourself through that change in starting a healthy habit. Tell people close to you about your goal and seek encouragement.
Find others who have similar habits or someone who would like to join you. Having others count on you is another sense of commitment to help hold you accountable.
Making sure others are aware of your new goal may help them keep you on track and even influence them to start their own healthy habit.
If you do fall short, you can easily continue right back where you left off.
Habits take time and the only way to ensure you will stick with it is to be accountable for yourself and don’t make excuses.
Once your new habit becomes routine, incorporate other healthy habits using the same steps. Hold others accountable as well.
Make sure anyone joining you is just as committed as you are and they don’t hold you back.
Tip: Make a journal or weekly update on your progress. Reflection is key to understanding what you can do better or keep doing well. Focus on the milestones and remember to praise yourself for your achievement. If you are teaming up with someone else, praise and encourage them too.
Starting a healthy habit is challenging at first, but is 100% achievable with a SMART approach. By taking small steps, being consistent, tracking your progress, overcoming setbacks, and ensuring accountability, you’re on the right path to success. The journey to a healthier you is unique, and every step forward is an achievement.
