Adopting good habits can significantly enhance your life. Dr. Julie Pham shares nine tips and tricks to help you start and maintain good habits.
Nine Tips to Start and Maintain Good Habits
- Keep It Simple
A habit should be simple and manageable. For example, I make it a habit to move after a meal to support my health goals. - Identity-Based Habit
As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, suggests, think of yourself as the person you want to be. I identify as someone who is pre-diabetic and actively work to avoid diabetes. - Tell Others
Increase accountability by telling people about your new habits. For example, I ask my friends to check in on my progress. - Make the Habit Social
Engage in habits with others to make them more enjoyable. I talk to a friend on the phone while walking after a meal. - Attach the Habit to an Existing Routine
Integrate new habits into established routines. For instance, I keep herbal supplements on the dining table to remember to take them with meals. - Track Your Progress
Write down when you complete a habit. I mark it on my calendar to increase my likelihood of sticking to it. - Reframe Resistance
Understand why you resist a habit and reframe it positively. I changed “knowledge is scary” to “knowledge is power” to overcome my fear of checking blood glucose levels. - Understand the Habit Loop
Replace bad habits with good ones. According to Charles Duhigg in The Power of Habit, the habit loop consists of a cue, routine, and reward. I identified my trigger of boredom, replaced the habit of snacking with brewing tea, and maintained the reward of no longer being bored. - Remember You’re in Control
You get to choose your actions when you feel a trigger. I remind myself that I have the power to make positive decisions.
I hope these nine tips help you start and maintain good habits. If you found this post useful, please like and share it.
Happy Habit Building!
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