Whilst 2 months can seem like a long period of time and might even be off-putting to some it is just the average result so it can be unwise to put a number and therefore pressure on habit building. There are some tasks that can aid in building healthy eating and exercise habits, these include the following;
As humans we are driven by the things we want, knowing what you want to achieve from eating healthy and exercising is why you want to create the habit in the first place. This can aid in continuing on with habit formation in times of lower moral and difficulty.
Planning creates structure which can guide an activity to become more than habit – it becomes a ritual deeply ingrained in daily occurrences. A well thought out plan can help in resisting the temptation to fall back into previously bad behaviours and in the case of an exercise plan can be a measure of success as weights and reps increase. Accompanying a plan is always preparation. This is crucial when it comes to eating well as prepared food is linked to better eating habits. Preparation can save time and allow sticking to a routine even in moments of unpredictability.
Healthy food doesn’t need to be bland, tasteless food and when eating vegetables they can even be visually appealing due to the variety of colours and textures they create on a plate. Extra effort in terms of preparation, additional herbs and spices ensure steamed vegetables aren’t on the menu every night which means it is less likely to become bored and unenthused by new eating habits. It pays to remember healthy doesn’t have to mean tasteless.
Eating and exercise should be about fun and enjoyment, not about constant restrictions and limitations as this type of limiting behaviour can be difficult to maintain. Instead an approach can be to eat healthy most of the time with a day or two allocated for a little splurge before returning to healthier eating habits. Similarly, setting goals such as physical activity for at least an hour a day, any exercise as long as it’s for the hour can be more flexible allowing the habit to develop. This can also aid in making the activity feel it fits naturally into current lifestyle.
