Two Ways to Help You Remember That New Health Habit
Did you make some resolutions at the beginning of this year about your health? Maybe you decided to establish a new positive habit, like drinking a glass of water when you wake.
And then some months later you realise that you had completely forgotten it after the first few days.
What went wrong? A very curious thing happens when you decide to make positive changes in your health habits.
You'll forget, without regular reminders until the new habit gets established! Lets explore how you can establish new habits more easily.
(Without having to tie a ribbon to your finger!) We all have routines.
Many of these are deeply ingrained, giving us feelings of familiarity and safety in our daily lives.
For example, many people eat the same breakfast every day.
They don't have to spend time in the morning making a decision about what to eat.
Its easy.
Comfortable.
Safe.
But when you try to establish a new health habit your subconscious, which resists change, wants you to slip back into your familiar routine.
Its going to take six weeks or so to reinforce this new habit until it feels strange when you don't do it.
You can use modern technology to help you make it happen.
Make a note in your diary, or even create a special recording sheet to paste on the fridge door and proudly tick off each time you remember to complete the new routine.
This will reinforce in your subconscious that your new routine is indeed a good thing.
This is your key to establishing new routines: Use modern technology to remind you, and don't switch off the reminder service until at least six weeks have passed, by which time your new habit will be established.
Now for the next good habit to establish..
..
..
And then some months later you realise that you had completely forgotten it after the first few days.
What went wrong? A very curious thing happens when you decide to make positive changes in your health habits.
You'll forget, without regular reminders until the new habit gets established! Lets explore how you can establish new habits more easily.
(Without having to tie a ribbon to your finger!) We all have routines.
Many of these are deeply ingrained, giving us feelings of familiarity and safety in our daily lives.
For example, many people eat the same breakfast every day.
They don't have to spend time in the morning making a decision about what to eat.
Its easy.
Comfortable.
Safe.
But when you try to establish a new health habit your subconscious, which resists change, wants you to slip back into your familiar routine.
Its going to take six weeks or so to reinforce this new habit until it feels strange when you don't do it.
You can use modern technology to help you make it happen.
- Most mobile phones now come with recurring reminders built in.
Set up a recurring 'appointment' with yourself as a reminder.
For example, if you want to take time out every evening to stretch your muscles, set an recurring alarm for the right time of day. - Computer calendars often include reminder facilities.
Perfect if you work at a desk and want to start a new habit of drinking more water during the day, or stretching your back regularly.
Just set the times and your computer will alert you regularly to stretch / drink water / whatever new habit you want to start.
Make a note in your diary, or even create a special recording sheet to paste on the fridge door and proudly tick off each time you remember to complete the new routine.
This will reinforce in your subconscious that your new routine is indeed a good thing.
This is your key to establishing new routines: Use modern technology to remind you, and don't switch off the reminder service until at least six weeks have passed, by which time your new habit will be established.
Now for the next good habit to establish..
..
..