Learn to form healthy habits by replacing the bad ones. Substituting healthy habits for unhealthy ones rewards you with more stamina, better quality of life – and a healthier you.
That is easier said than done, of course, but some simple tips can help you tackle even the most indulgent and hardest-to-kick habits.When it comes to health, you can always use some help and motivation. A lot of people will do it for their children.
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Break a big goal into smaller short-term goals
Break a big goal into smaller short-term goals. “Don’t go cold turkey,” “Suppose you’re drinking five beers a day, and you want to get down to six a month. Reduce to three a day. You’ll see the benefits and feel more motivated to move toward your longer-term goal.”
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Tell someone you trust
Tell someone you trust – not someone who will sabotage you. Be accountable to someone all the time. It’s toughest forming a healthy habit if you don’t have support. For example, one spouse might be trying to stop smoking while the other one isn’t. “You have to find some inner strength, some self-motivation and push through it. Or get couples counseling, a safe setting where you can ask your spouse: ‘Can you be supportive and go outside to smoke?’ ”
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Allow a “cheat” once in a while
Allow a “cheat” once in a while. “If you’ve avoided sweets all week and you’ve been exercising, and you go to Grandma’s, you can afford that ONE small piece of apple pie. Or let yourself have one ‘crazy meal’ a week.”
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Break the TV habit in favor of exercise
Break the TV habit in favor of exercise. “Tell yourself, ‘that I would watch all the missed episodes on weekend as a reward to myself and do my exercise regularly on weekdays’
Oreven better, switch to a fitness program on TV and exercise in front of it.
