How to Change Your Fitness Habits for Good
By Genevieve Cunningham
Habits are what make us exactly who we are. Sometimes, what we want to be and our habits don’t exactly match up. We want to be a clean eater, but we can’t stop with the morning donut run. Maybe we want to be an early morning exerciser, but we can’t wake up any earlier no matter what we do. When this happens, it’s time to make some changes, not to your expectations, but to your habits. If you want to be fit and healthy, you have to act like it! But how? If you’re ready to turn your life around and move it toward long-term wellness, take a look at these tips for changing your fitness habits and making them stick.
Determine Which Habits Need Changing
The first step in changing habits is to make a decision. If you are vague about the changes that you'll be making, it won't work. What specific changes do you want to make to your routine? A change in diet? Fitness? Workout routine? Where do you struggle the most? Determining exactly where you want to begin will help you pinpoint your problem spots and keep you moving in the right direction.
Focus on One at a Time
Once you determine a few of the changes you want to make, focus on just one habit. You shouldn't change too many things at once, as this sets you up for potential failure. Instead, change only one thing about your routine, and stick with it until you've mastered it. Change your snacking habits, or strive for working out at the same time every day. After a while, this new habit should stick and you can move on to another. Does this take longer? Probably. But you're much more likely to find long-term success with this slower approach.
Consider Changing Other Habits With Them
Sometimes it's easier to change fitness habits if you change other habits with them. Maybe you really want to alter your workout habits. Great! But how are your sleeping habits? Your morning habits? These other lifestyle choices have a big impact on your success. If you're not getting enough rest, you won't have the energy to focus on your workout. Along with changing a fitness habit, consider changing a few lifestyle habits as well, and you’ll be setting yourself up with the healthiest life yet.
It’s easy to get into a rut when it comes to habits. It’s easy to do the same thing over and over again without thinking of the long-term consequences. But the good news is that you can absolutely change everything about your life … if you’ll just change your habits! Use these tips to help get your life moving in a healthier direction, and you may find big improvements in the way that you feel about life and everything in it.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Anaheim, Calif.