Forming Healthy Habits

At the beginning of the New Year, we all try to ditch bad habits and form good ones.  Above is my own bad habit I’m trying to kick (and by kick I mean reduce the frequency of, NOT eliminate. God no I could never do that).

Getting out of a habit may seem daunting, but the good news is, by ridding yourself of an old habit, you are already forming a new one.  Just like you can get used to having dessert after dinner every night, you can get used to not having dessert after dinner every night.  It just takes a little time — usually 2 weeks is enough for food habits — of not doing what you’re used to, and TADA!, a new (good) habit is formed.

To help get you through the sometimes tough period of adjustment (when you are craving frozen yogurt with sprinkles so badly it’s taking over your entire being), it’s helpful to fill the time you used to spend on the habit with a specific planned activity.  For example:

Dessert – When I get the craving for it I’ll go through my dresser and find clothes to give to the Goodwill.
Salty snacks – When I’m at work and I get the craving for something salty at 4pm, I’ll leave the building and go on a 5 minute walk around the block, breathing deeply and refocusing my attention.
Wine – To prepare for the craving I know I’ll get for my nightly glass of wine, I’ll go the grocery store and find 3 new cool herbal teas that I can jump up and make as soon as the craving strikes.

…..and so on.  Really, it’s not as hard as you think.  Our bodies are amazing and can re-learn pretty much anything.  So…I’ll let you know how the frozen yogurt battle goes.