It is often said that if you want to break a bad habit, you have to replace it with a new one – a good one. But as your life experiences have probably already taught you by now, both getting rid of bad habits and building healthy ones takes a lot of work and effort. Scientists have come to the conclusion that it can take between 18 to 254 days for people to form a new habit and more than two months for the habit to become an automatism, so it’s definitely not something you can expect to happen by snapping your fingers.
It’s tempting and quite comforting to daydream about how you’re going to take action and put your life together one day. Unfortunately, most attempts at fixing what’s broken and improving your lifestyle fail miserably because you’re not able to commit to the changes and make them stick. If you really want things to happen the way you imagine, you need to come up with a plan and build a strategic approach that guarantees lasting change. Otherwise, you’re going to be stuck in the wishful thinking loop forever and none of your goals will translate into reality.
And while these plans and strategies can differ from person to person, depending on each individual’s unique characteristics and requirements, there are certain techniques that have proven their efficiency in this respect. so, here are a few things that you can start doing right now to bid bad habits farewell and make lifestyle changes that last for the long haul.
Find your why
Motivation plays a decisive role in staying focused and maintaining goal-oriented behaviour. If you don’t know exactly why you want to achieve a certain goal, it’s going to be very difficult to find the energy to keep fighting for that goal. The road is going to get bumpy quickly, and when it does, you’re going to find a million excuses to procrastinate and avoid doing the work, until you finally give it up.
So, before you jump into action, it’s important to make time for self-reflection. Ask yourself what you want to change about yourself and why, and be honest about it. The answers to these questions will serve as a guiding light and help you stay on track in difficult times.
Set realistic goals
When you get a sudden surge of motivation it’s very easy to feel like you’re ready to conquer the world and you’ve got it all under control. This is not a good time to set goals as you’ll probably overestimate your powers. Keep in mind that these kinds of feelings are temporary, and once that high calms down, the distance between the point where you are now and the one you want to reach will seem immeasurable, and that will make it more likely for you to abandon your objectives.
Try to be as objective as possible when analysing your current situation and possibilities, and set realistic goals for yourself. Think of things you can actually see yourself doing in the long run instead of imagining a life you’re not equipped for.
Take it one step at a time
Assuming you’ve already found your motivation and set goals accordingly, it’s time to finally put your plan into action and make things happen. But as you’re getting ready to shoot for the stars, remember that no one said you have to do it in one jump. Let’s say you want to purchase edibles for your wellness routine or become a vegetarian. The best way to go about it is to do thorough research on what these changes imply and then take things step by step. If you’re going to buy CBD products, it’s recommended to check the provider, find out where they purchase their wholesale edibles from and read the reviews first to make sure you’re making a smart decision.
It’s a lot safer, healthier, and more efficient in the long run to introduce changes gradually, one by one. If you insist on taking a shortcut and doing everything at once in hopes of achieving your goals faster, you risk feeling overwhelmed by the amount of novelty you have to deal with and have a negative reaction to it as a result.
Accept setbacks
Making important lifestyle changes is not a linear journey. There will be days when it’s going to be easier for you to do the things you set out to do, days when you’ll find it difficult to find the motivation for it, and even moments when you’re going to fail and feel like all your efforts have been in vain and there’s no point in continuing.
As difficult as it may be to accept it, setbacks are a normal part of the process and you have to learn how to deal with them. Give yourself credit for all the things you’ve managed to achieve and be kind to yourself when things don’t go your way. Perfectionism has no place in your quest, so you should stop tearing yourself down when you make a mistake.
Look for support
As with all great endeavours, lifestyle changes require a bit of help from the outside from time to time. Know that you don’t have to walk on this path alone. Surrounding yourself with positive people who support your actions and are ready to listen to you or give you a helping hand when needed is a great way to stay motivated and make the process a bit smoother.
And it’s not just family members or friends who can be of help. Professionals and organisations can also make a difference. For example, if you want to introduce CBD products into your routine, partnering up with reputable providers like Simply Green is a great way to do that. Similarly, if you want to boost your mental health, reaching out to a professional can give you access to the care and treatment you may require.
While making lasting changes is not easy, it’s very much possible to achieve your goals if you approach things with patience and care. So, don’t be afraid to dream big and start living the life you envision today.
