cultivating good habits

Many people will eagerly begin a fitness program then give up after a short time, despite initial good intentions. I can’t speculate individual reasons but I do know a common one is the majority of us are after (and expect!) instant results - especially when it comes to weight loss. When weight has crept on over years I don’t know why we think we can make it all disappear in four weeks, two weeks, one week! Overnight!!!

It’s easy to become motivated at the start, the key, is remaining absolute with that initial focus - which takes a strict discipline at the beginning. Not what many want to hear or do. Sometimes the changes along the way appear small, which can make your goal aim feel like a long arduous journey at times, but change WILL be established if you simply keep going and don’t quit. Think long term. Think, life!

A fundamental element is building a stability. The habits you create, determine your future. Cultivating new, positive habits into your life requires a strong desire to replace poor habits. The most effective way to eliminate an imperfect habit is to find a new, empowering one to replace it with. Then...

“All that is required is to practice the desired action regularly until, it becomes wired into the subconscious mind, through repetition...”

When you build that regularity of routine, once you get through 21 days... 30 days - simply one day at a time - eating nutritionally, will become second nature. Exercise, rather than appear a ‘chore’ will become an action of will!

For your health, this is the place you want to arrive. Where walking out that front door to exercise is just an enthusiastic, automatic action that you love - and the life of the couch and a bag of potato chips, is a vague, distant memory!

Some assisting thoughts, no matter what the end goal/change is you’re after. Implement those that make it work, for you.

Commit to thirty days <- This is what you need to make the habit, automatic. And anyone can do ANYTHING for thirty days, no matter how difficult it seems at times! Right?! Focus on one day at a time.

Do it daily <- Consistency is critical if you want to make it stick... activities you do only once every few days are trickier to lock in as habits.

Start simple <- It’s easy to get over-excited and take on too much which becomes overwhelming. Small steps.

Remind yourself <- Regularly, of what you have to do. If it’s about ‘exercise’, the days you don’t feel like moving or you find yourself creating excuses, remind yourself how great you will feel afterwards. No one ever feels miserable AFTER they finish a session and wish they hadn’t done it! So make a pact with yourself, no matter how you feel, you go and ‘do it’ anyway.

Stay uniform <- Cues like time of day, circumstances and a fixed location can be of help for some.

Be imperfect <- Commit to your best! But DO expect a few bumps along the way. There is no such thing as perfection, nor such a thing as failure! Just don’t allow those bumps to control your progress or use them as an excuse to give up entirely.

Remove temptation <- Specially helpful for the sustenance side. REMOVE junk food from your house - you can’t eat what isn’t there!

Associate with positive role models <- You become who you spend time around. If you’re around negative or arrogant people, you will become that. Choose to surround yourself only with people you want to mirror. Single out positive, motivating role models. It’s great to have support.

Write it down <- Writing can make your ideas clearer and help focus you on your end result.

Know the benefits <- Familiarise yourself with the benefits of making your change. What are the benefits of regular exercise? Eating healthy? What will the benefits be for you if you achieve your goal? What is YOUR ‘why’?

Do it for yourself <- Don’t worry about other people’s expectations of you. The habits you choose for yourself, are yours and yours alone.

Consistency, is what matters. It’s a SUPER word. And it IS the word that delivers results.
Everyone can create their own amazing journey with fantastic results utilising consistency.

So is it time to begin YOUR thirty days? It doesn’t matter when ‘day one’ is, but why not begin your change now? After all, today is already here!

Cheers to staying focused, Ann.