It's a new year, and that fresh start often invigorates us to start -- or re-start -- some good habits. I've been around long enough to know that it's hard to get those New Year's Resolutions to stick, so I thought I would share some tips for how to create habits that last.
Make it easy to do. Make that new habit EASY by putting what you need in an accessible place. I made daily vitamins a habit by decanting them from bottles into a dispenser so I only needed to open one container. I kept it on the counter where I would see it first thing in the morning as a reminder to take them.
Start small. Change can be hard! If you try to make too many changes, or changes that are too big, long-term success is less likely. For example, if you want to exercise more, start with a 5 minute routine, and slowly increase the duration and intensity over time. To create a better dental hygiene routine (a goal of many I'm sure!), add just one new habit at a time. Brush one extra time per day. Once that is established, Add flossing after brushing until that's ingrained. Then add a mouthwash step to the routine... you get the idea.
Share your goal with a friend. Accountability increases your likelihood of success by about 50%!
Tie your new habit to an existing habit. This is possibly the best piece of advice I ever got. Want to start something new? Pick something you do every single day, and do that new thing WITH the existing habit. This is called "habit stacking." An example might be putting your diffuser with your coffee machine so you remember to fill it in the morning when you pour your coffee.
Consistency is key! Never miss two consecutive days, because interrupting the continuity of the task breaks the habit formation cycle. And, focus on repetition, not perfection. Be patient with yourself. The small lifestyle changes you make today will add up to big benefits to your health in the future!