#3: Three Steps to Sustainable Habits

Self-care challenge from the website www.calmmoment.com/

"At this time of year it is easy to get swept up in grand, elaborate plans. It is natural after the indulgence of the festive season for the pendulum to swing the other way, but attempt too much at once and we lay ourselves vulnerable to ‘falling off the wagon’ and not getting back on at all. Set yourself up with insight and realistic expectations using these three steps to making habits that stick.

Don’t try to change everything simultaneously, it is simply not sustainable. Instead, aim to create waves of change. Think of aspects of your lifestyle that you’d like to rejuvenate, like nutrition, exercise, social connection or creativity – start with just one.

1. Ask yourself: What am I currently doing about this area of my life? You need to bring your current choices to the light before you can make informed change. What do you stand to lose if you don’t make any changes?
2. ‘Why is this important to me’? This is the stuff that galvanises you into doing things differently, and making healthy choices more often in the face of temptation.
3. Break your action steps down into one incremental change at a time. Work on this until it is a routine part of life, then embark on the next mini goal. One new habit at a time, one aspect of life at a time.