You’ve worked on shifting your habits, but the urge to revert back to old habits may still be there. This is normal and expected! Creating an environment that’s positive and conducive for change can aid in controlling these temptations. Our environment impacts our habits more than we might think, and we are often competing against it. Here are some pointers on how to create a positive environment and a climate that is conducive to change:
- Create friction. Focus your energy on making it hard to continue old habits. Move your television out of the bedroom to promote healthy sleep habits. Stock the fridge with water to stop yourself from reaching for a soda. When you do this, it makes it easier to maintain healthy habits.
- Control your environment. Controlling your environment means equipping it with everything you need to succeed in implementing the change that you want. It is more than removing temptations; it’s about replacing old habits with new, more effective ones. Try setting an alarm on your phone for reminders to exercise, drink water, and practice mindfulness.
- Try task association. Task association is a way to train your brain to complete a task automatically. Light a scented candle at night while practicing mindfulness. Each time you do, your mind will associate that task with that scent. This can also be practiced in other ways. For example, if you frequently eat at your desk, remove all snacks from near your desk to associate your desk as a place of work, not eating.
- Establish a support system. All of these tasks are more challenging when you don’t have support. Continue to build your health bubble and promote wellness by sharing your journey with your loved ones. When others are aware of the lifestyle that you are leading, they will likely align themselves with you or be considerate of your healthy efforts.
Ask me, your OPTAVIA Coach, about other ways to create a positive environment on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time®.
Reprinted from HOH Newsletter 8/10