Resolution revolution
In our three-page special, we look at great ways to make positive changes to your life in the New Year. Here’s how to lay the groundwork to help you succeed in 2017
Choose healthy habits that suit you To ensure a new habit becomes a long-term staple in your life, you need to choose an activity that fits with who you are and how you live. Otherwise, you’ll find that you’re fighting an uphill battle against personality and lifestyle factors that are too ingrained to change.
When picking a habit you’d like to form, as well as your strengths and passions, it’s good to keep in mind your day-to-day schedule, general stress levels and when you have free time available. Book your new habit into your diary If you don’t have a specific plan for sticking with a new habit, it’s easy to find that your already packed schedule won’t allow you the “spare time” necessary to do anything new very often.
You’ll be too busy, too tired, or will easily find another excuse.
That’s why a crucial next step is for you to make time in your schedule for this activity. And then write this slot into your diary for the next six months.
Whether it’s “every morning before my shower”, “during my lunch break”, or “weeknights at 8pm”, you need to have a time set aside for your chosen activity so that you won’t continually find a reason to ditch it. Give it at least 66 days A US study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology found that it took, on average, 66 days for a new habit to become automatic and no longer need thinking about.
So, if those first few weeks are a struggle, don’t worry about it.
As long as you manage to stick with your new healthy behaviour for at least three months, a new habit will form. Ask yourself how you’re doing And answer honestly. Pay attention to how you feel. Does your new healthy habit fit with your lifestyle? Is it easy to maintain or do you think you may need to try something new?
If you find that you haven’t kept up with your new plans as much as you had hoped you would, rather than beating yourself up over it, congratulate yourself for noticing that you Black sequin maxi dress, £20, boohoo.com need a change of approach. It’s the first step in building a new plan that will better serve you.
And, if you’re grinding along with a plan, and not feeling or believing the new habit will come naturally, at least you know what doesn’t work for you.
So now you can try something else that you may end up loving. Take a breather Build short breaks into your master plan.
We can do almost anything for short periods, but when we think about doing any behaviour for a lifetime, we’re bound to feel overwhelmed. Discard all-or-nothing thinking and enjoy a moderate break.
If you’re losing weight and are avoiding eating sugar, have a sweet treat once every two weeks. Or, if you think you have Tassel and rhinestone drop earrings, topshop.com more willpower, stick to a firm plan for four to six weeks, and then take a week off. Just make sure that during your “off ” time you don’t undo all of the progress that you’ve made – make the goal to maintain or relax a little, instead of indulging and sliding back. Look after yourself If you’re always tired, hungry, stressed or depressed, you’ll increase the likelihood of succumbing to temptation and slipping back into bad habits.
You’ll find it easier to fight temptation if you get a good night’s sleep so you feel refreshed in the morning.
It’s a good idea to stay hydrated too. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day to ward off dehydration headaches and fatigue.
Eat a balanced diet – including fruit, vegetables, wholegrain carbs and lean protein.
Carry healthy snacks like unsalted nuts or a banana with you to nibble on when you feel hungry – this will ward off low blood sugar which can seriously deplete willpower.
Exercise or find 10 minutes of “me time” to reduce stress. ● Star zip top clutch bag, £20, accessorize.com Jewelled heel black suede sandals, dunelondon.com Myleene Klass black sequin maxi dress, littlewoods.com