Create a GREATER you by changing your habits for the better. Here’s how.
What’s your goal? Write it down. Studies show you’re more likely to follow through if you commit to something in writing.
Why do you want to adopt new behaviour? What’s driving you? Knowing why a goal is important to you can help keep you motivated.
How motivated are you? Rank your motivation from 1-10. If your motivation is low, you’ll find it hard to keep going. Consider what you can do to change this.
What’s an achievable action? Think about the steps you’ll take to reach your goal. Be specific and start small. You can always build up over time. ‘Walk for 30 minutes every weekday’ is much better than ‘exercise more’.
What cues/prompts will you use? A trigger is something that acts as a reminder and a prompt. Triggers are key to making a habit automatic. They can be things like keeping a drink bottle at your desk to stay hydrated or putting a book on your bedside table to read before sleep.
How will you make this new habit part of your routine? Repetition is important, here. When a behaviour is repeated it activates the part of the brain (the basal ganglia) responsible for turning a task into a habit. Try to entrench the habit by practising regularly.
How will you celebrate your success? Rewards are important, otherwise the habit will feel like a chore – and you’ll be less likely to keep at it. It’s about noticing the small improvements and giving yourself a pat on the back along the way. This helps to reinforce new behaviour and make habits stick.