Teach yourself a healthy lifestyle
You were all set. You dutifully pushed out the last cigarette in the ashtray. Quickly stuffed a last chocolate truffle in your mouth under the guise: “Just one more then!” But now, only so short a time later, you are back in your old, unhealthy lifestyle. What went wrong?
How is it possible that you really want to change something, but that you simply can’t? There are several reasons. First, such a habit means a lot more to you than you think. A cigarette is relaxing and a beer or chips cozy. While that is actually because you are in the pub with your friends. Or because you escape that stressful situation together with that cigarette.
Subconscious
The next bottleneck of habits is that they are no longer conscious choices. You do it without thinking about it. You don’t consciously stuff yourself with calorie bombs that harm your health, do you?
Moreover, changes, such as good intentions, bring a lot of uncertainty. You naturally try to protect yourself from pain and discomfort. You really don’t want to hear such a conclusion that you are not doing something right. It makes you anxious and confused. So you prefer to keep everything the way it is.
pitfalls
So that habit means something to you. If you take it away, something must take its place. If you suddenly find yourself empty-handed in a stressful situation, there is a good chance that you will fall back on what you already know. And voila, you’re smoking again. And once you’ve smoked a cigarette, or skipped an evening of exercise, there’s a good chance you’ll give up completely. In psychology they call this the “What the hell effect”. The more negatively you think about yourself because of that misstep, the more likely you are to drop out altogether. If you have failed in a quit attempt before, this feeling is even stronger.
Then there are the temptations. Your environment puts you under pressure, “a smaller piece of pie then?”. You pass that bakery where you always got a tomcat, or watch your favorite series and miss the nibbles. Not all those situations can be avoided, and then you have to very well inculcate in yourself why you no longer want that.
The good news is: old habits are behaviors. So they can be learned, but also unlearned!
Use the following tactics to make your new lifestyle resolution:
- Do not see your intention as a punishment, but look at it from a positive angle. Don’t think: I can’t eat anything, but: I want to make healthier choices.
- Make a list of other fun things you can do. Hang it up and when you feel the “bad” need coming on, choose from one of these fun things. It does you good and you don’t have to feel guilty!
- Keep a journal of everything you do. Even things that have nothing to do with your old habit. This gives you more insight into your actions and you can deal with them more consciously. Also indicate when you were able to restrain yourself from eating a cake or smoking a cigarette. Mark this note with a thick marker and pat yourself on the back.
- Tell as many people as possible. Go stop or exercise with someone.
- Reward yourself: If you have behaved yourself five times; give yourself something nice. If you break your intention twice, you are setting yourself up with a tedious job.
