Want proof that the habits you keep can make all of the difference?
Confucius said, “Men’s natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them.”
John Dryden famously said, “We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”
And Aristotle noticed that “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”
It’s pretty clear that the habits you adopt will shape who you are.
What are your habits?
Do you eat the same thing for lunch, go through the same exercise routine, and fall into bed at the same time each night?
Or maybe you’ve made a habit out of eating something sweet before bed, avoiding the gym, and staying up as late as possible.
When it comes to your fitness, the two habits that define you are your eating and exercise habits. Everyone that you know who is in great shape has dialed in these two important habits.
If you aren’t happy with your health or your body, then adjust your eating and exercise habits.
Here’s how to adopt a habit:
1. Decide on the ONE new pattern of behavior that you would like to develop. It’s tempting to pick up 3 or 4 healthy habits, but choosing just one new practice is realistic and doable.
Here are some healthy habit ideas:
- Do not eat after 7 pm each night.
- Bring your lunch to work instead of eating fast food.
- Exercise 4 times a week after work for 45 minutes each time.
- Only eat fruits and veggies as your afternoon snack.
- Get up early and exercise for an hour each morning.
- Come workout with us three times a week or find a Certified Functional Aging Specialist near you.
2. Write your new habit down on paper. Also, include your three primary motivators for developing a new practice, the obstacles you’ll face, and your strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
Here’s an example:
- My new habit is to work with a personal trainer three times each week.
- My three primary motivators are 1) to feel confident in my sleeveless summer clothing, 2) to have more energy and 3) to fit into my smaller sized clothes.
- The obstacles I will face are 1) not having the energy to go to my session after work, 2) not having enough money to pay for the workouts, and 3) not having my partner’s support.
- I will overcome these obstacles by 1) doing my workouts before work instead of after work, so I have more energy, 2) cutting down on frivolous spending to ensure that I can afford it, and 3) asking my partner to join me so we can get in shape together.
3. Commit fully to your new habit in a public way. This commitment could mean posting it on social media, or simply announcing it at the dinner table. Put yourself in a position where you’ll be empowered to keep up with your new habit.
4. Keep track of your progress. You could keep a detailed journal or make a check mark on each calendar day that you successfully exercise your new habit.
Once your new habit becomes second nature, usually in about 30 days, feel free to add a second habit to practice by going through the same steps.
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