Often when we talk about forming new habits it’s January when we are all fired up and raring to go in the New Year. But February often brings with it a slump - new habits start to wane so what better time to revisit this than now? In today’s podcast we talk to Ros Fielden, a health coach about her health journey and how to build sustainable habits.
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FORMING NEW HABITS – A GUEST BLOG BY ROS FIELDEN
Changing or creating new habits can be tricky. Here are 5 tips from Health Coach, Ros Fielden, to get you started
Start Small
Change is difficult, there are no two ways about it. It takes energy, commitment, and perseverance, and as with any change it begins with a shift in mindset. When changing our habits to create a healthier and happier life, just as in a decluttering journey, we start small. It is incredible that just by changing one habit you can start on the journey to create the life that you want for yourself. Firstly, think of your priorities – this is very personal – and then chose one thing you can do to move forwards. Once you have conquered one habit then you can move on to a second and a third and gradually over time you will start to habituate these changes.
Believe in yourself
Be kind to yourself - always - is my motto. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy, criticising and feeling frustrated with ourselves. We all have an internal voice or critic as it is sometimes called. Remind yourself that this voice can be a kind voice. Try to reframe the negative self-talk and talk to yourself in the way you would talk to your best friend. Think about the phrases you are using and try to make them more encouraging and positive.
Repetition and practice
Changing habits takes time and just like anything else it takes repetition and practice to make it stick. An increase in self-awareness; thinking about how you are feeling and recognising triggers can be extremely helpful when making changes.
Creating an environment that is conducive to success
Are you wanting to reduce your sugar intake? As an example, you would start by thinking about how you can improve your chances of success in your environment. How about reducing the number of snacks and sugar containing products in the house to reduce temptation or use a Health Coach or a family member to give you some accountability. It is also not just the exterior environment that we need to be aware of but also our internal environment and mindset and we can do this by practising reframing our thinking.
Patience and Accountability
Changing habits is a process that takes time so recognising this and finding the patience to stick with it is the key. Rewiring our brains to create new habits or overwrite old habits takes energy, so eating well and getting plenty of sleep is important. It is also important to remember that we are only human and if we have a slip this is where the shift in mindset comes in, we are kind to ourselves, pick ourselves up and continue moving forwards. We all have the capacity to change.
If you would like to know more about Ros and her work check out her website.
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