Maintaining healthy habits when life changes
We may have the best intentions when making plans to eat well, exercise, and get more sleep, but then a stressful situation, a new challenge, or a life-changing circumstance throws everything off, and we end up back at square one. However, it is possible to make health and lifestyle changes and begin to see benefits, even when facing the challenges life presents.
Here are a few techniques to consider when trying to establish lasting routines and habits:
Identify your intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is what drives our actions in the long term. It is our deep desire for something that we value. You can identify it when you hear yourself say, “I want to…” versus, “I need to…,” “I have to…” or “I should…” Identify all the positive reasons you want to do something and write them down in a wellness diary that you can then review to remind yourself of your goals and revise them over time.
Set a time, plan, and commit to it. Remind yourself of the reason you want to make a change or form a positive habit, and develop specific strategies outlining when and how you’ll do it. For instance, you could say, “I will drink eight glasses of water per day by drinking one while my tea is brewing, four while at work, one while cooking dinner, and two after dinner while watching television. I want to do it because I have more energy when I am well hydrated.”
Pair your good intention with something you’re already doing. Pick an established routine, like brushing your teeth, and perform the routine or habit you’re trying to establish immediately after. This will help you remember to stay on track.
Make a list of all the benefits of the habit you’re adopting. You may surprise yourself when you start listing all the positive things it will do for you.
Practice self-compassion. On the days when you’re committed to performing your new routine or habit, tell yourself that you'll do it for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, you will give yourself permission to stop if you’re not feeling up to continuing. This works particularly well with habits like exercise because getting started is often our biggest roadblock.
Flex your mindfulness muscle. When you're doing the activity, think about what you’re noticing and appreciating about it. This will make you more present in the moment, anchoring the ‘quality of life benefits’ you perceive and value.
Think of building healthy habits as an experiment. It’s important not to put unnecessary stress on yourself. It takes time to work out what works and what doesn't. Seeing your habit as a learning experience will help you succeed. Once you've established clear benefits to forming your habit, it will be hard not to continue, as you don't want to give up the quality of life you've gained.
Develop a minimum necessary standard. Paring down your healthy habits to the basics, such as sleep, hydration, nutrition, and some form of exercise, can help you when you go through periods of peak stress. When life calms down a bit, you can resume the healthy habits you’re developing to keep you on track to live your best life.
Ask for help. If you find you’re not able to maintain these healthy habits over a period or you’re frustrated with your progress, you may need more help. Reaching out to friends and professionals might be exactly what you need to kick-start change in your life and help you sustain it.
