Understanding bad habits is the first step on the ladder to improving your health. It is important to know that you can reduce your bad ones and improve on your good ones.
Identify what your existing bad habits are and the underlying cause. Create a “note file” on your phone or purchase a notebook and start to log your behaviour patterns. Use the following headings;
Habit, Trigger and Preventative Measures.
Habit: Over eating.
Trigger: Stress, bored at work, lack of food during the day.
Preventative Measures: Distractions such as going for a walk or visiting a friend. Using activities such as yoga to reduce stress. Eating healthy foods during the day.
Track the frequency of your behaviour. The more frequent this happens the more notes you will make which will cause the issue to increase in importance in your mind. Set yourself a daily reminder to ensure you remember to do this and reflect at the end/during your day.
Remove the Trigger – identifying the habits now gives you the power to prepare for the trigger and reduce/remove it.
Forming Good Habits:
Before forming new habits you need to assess which ones will help you on your journey to better health. Log healthy habits the same way as you log bad habits with the following headings;
Habit, trigger, positive actions.
Habit: Walk 1km per day.
Trigger: Add diary reminders or purchase a step counter.
Positive actions: Get off the bus one stop earlier than required. Set up a walking group at work.