One small step at a time can lead to big change
January is a common time to make lifestyle changes, the transition to a new year can be a source of motivation for many. While this inspired attitude can be a strong driver, many people underestimate how challenging sustainable change can be. We are creatures of habit, and every change we make requires a little planning to implement, and creates some level of disruption to our daily routine. Often when life gets in the way, we push these goals aside in favour of a more comfortable pattern and revert to old behaviours.
Most of us tend to approach change with the wrong mindset. We set unrealistic and idealistic goals that may not be attainable, creating a cycle of failure and discouragement that can inhibit us from trying to make positive changes in the future.
Sustainable lifestyle change is possible, but we need to take a step back and rethink our approach to make this happen. Change is the development of a series of small habits. Most of our daily behaviour is based on routine, so creating new habits will take time, patience and practice.
3 Steps to making lifestyle changes
1. Plan: We need to physically, mentally and practically prepare ourselves to make a change. If we dive in feet first without a plan, we are unlikely to succeed. If you were to cook more meals at home, for example, this means purchasing ingredients, gathering recipes, and setting aside time to prepare these foods. Anticipate roadblocks, and make a contingency plan for when things don’t go as intended.
2. Start really, really small: Remember, change is the development of a series of small habits, and habits take a long time to form. If you’ve never been to the gym in your life, it’s not realistic to assume you’re going to start going seven days a week right away. Maybe the first step is packing a gym bag that you bring to work everyday, and going to a class once a week. You’re forming the habit of brining what you need to be physically active and, theoretically, a one day a week commitment is manageable to include in your current routine. Move up from there.
3. One change at a time: Wait until you have firmly established your first change before embarking on the next. Focusing on one goal at a time allows us to experience success, which makes sustainable change much more realistic. We gain momentum from each small win, which positively reinforces our behaviour and builds confidence in our ability to achieve our larger goals.