How To Change Your Habits And Make Them Stick
Updated: Oct 11, 2021
Written by: Taylor Williams, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Decide on your habit - set your goal. Know exactly what you want to change and why. Make a promise to yourself that you will do it and follow through. Know what you are asking of yourself. How often will you do it? When will you do it? How will you know it has been done? Why is it important that you do this or reach this goal?
Be consistent – The most important factor in making a habit successful is consistency. Progress takes time and patience. You have to continually take action and trust the process. People tend to give up once they don't get immediate gratification. Understand that this is a process and you have to allow yourself time to become the person you are becoming. Commit to only things you know you can achieve consistently and then continually knock it out of the park.
Start small – Take baby steps. Make changes slowly. Give yourself grace. Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Do things that make you feel your best. Focus on one thing at a time. The little things add up to something so much bigger. Every little step counts.
Don't expect yourself to be perfect – You aren't going to be perfect, nobody is. Being flawless is an unrealistic expectation. You are going to mess up, you are going to have hard days, and you are going to have days where you want to give up. You have to plan for failure because it is part of the process. It is unrealistic to think you will never face challenges. It's what you choose to do, and how you choose to react, when you are confronted with those challenges that make you strong. A mistake does not mean you are a failure. Recognize the lessons in your mistakes and use it to become better. Messing up and learning from it is how you grow.
Anchor your habit to an existing habit – If you have something new you want to begin doing associate it with an existing habit. For example after I brush my teeth in the morning I will drink 1 glass of water, or after I shower I will meditate for 10 minutes. This allows your brain to start associating the new habit with the current habit leading to higher rates of success.
Try to perform the new habit daily – The more you perform the habit, the quicker you will start to do it on autopilot and it will become an integrated part of your life. Perform the new habit as often as you can. Try not to skip two days in a row. This cements the habit into your unconscious.
Remember WHY you want to make the change – Don't forget why you started. Think about what made you want this change in the first place. Think about what positive changes would come from adopting this habit. Think about what it would truly mean for your life. Imagine yourself in a state where this is already part of your daily life.
Love yourself – Everything starts with you. Your relationship with yourself is the most important one you will ever have. Nurture that relationship as much as you can. Love yourself enough to do what you need to do to be happy and healthy. Love yourself enough to stay disciplined. You and your body deserve to be respected and praised. When your relationship with yourself is strained, it is really hard to treat yourself with respect. When you show hate towards yourself or your body, you are less likely to do the things that protect it. When you love yourself, you make the changes know are in your best interest. Choose to love and appreciate yourself and your body unconditionally.
Seek out accountability – Staying committed to something new is hard. Finding another person to hold you accountable can dramatically accelerate your progress. Tell someone about your new habit and ask them to make sure you stay consistent. whether it be a friend, family member, or a coach, having someone by your side can make all the difference.
Taylor Williams, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Taylor Williams, found her calling when she stumbled into the world of health and fitness at age 26. After struggling with mystery illnesses and poor mental health most of her life, she decided to take her health into her own hands. She hired a coach, lost 60lbs and significantly improved her health and mental wellness. She went on to discover she had a love for bodybuilding and competed in her first fitness competition. She had seen the amazing effect coaching had on her life and wanted to do that for others. She returned to school and then opened her own coaching business, Mindful Miss Health & Fitness. She now coaches many women on the subjects of nutrition, health, strength training, mindfulness and habit change. She loves to help women creating lasting transformations in their body and mind.
