I love a good habit!
Are we setting resolutions this year? With my clients, we make goals every week not just once a year. We just keep building on the previous weeks goal/habit until next thing you know, you have met them all. It’s a strategy and it works almost every time. Habits don’t have to be bad or hard or not breakable - they can be easy and rewarding. Habits are created by accident or by our parents, friends, etc. (Ex- always drinking milk with dinner. Snacking on chips while watching your favorite movie, then the next movie you want the same feel good mood, so you pull the chips out.) How can you change a habit? Make a plan and start changing it.
The secret that my clients realize? If they mess up, you just go back to the previous week and repeat it. Then add the current goal next week. It builds better habits and consistency. And it works.
1. Pick a small, manageable goal/habit/idea that you want to improve or focus on. Example: drink an extra cup of water 3x a day
2. Work on that goal for the week. Simple. Then watch how it gets easier throughout the week.
3. Pick another goal at the beginning of the next week to add to the first goal. Example: eat more protein.
Example:
Week 1 - drink 3 extra cups of water a day. Wake up, drink a cup. (1 ) Before lunch, drink a cup. (2 ) With dinner, add a cup. (3 ) *Remember- a cup isn’t a lot.
Week 2 - Add protein. Wake up, drink a cup of water. Breakfast or morning snack, add a half cup of good quality turkey to a few crackers and a piece of cheese. Before lunch, drink a cup of water. With dinner, add a cup of water and an extra side/portion of protein. Two weeks down.
Well look at that, I’ve done your first two weeks for you. It works better than saying “I want to run a few marathons this year.” Or “I want to lose 75 pounds this year.” Those are big goals aren’t they?? You can’t just start from nothing and do either of those without planning and a strategy. But you can break them down to manageable weekly goals that all add up and end with the one big goal! Think about it and tell me a manageable goal you want to start with.
Cheers to starting new good habits and goals!
Love, Molly
