5 Ways to Create New Healthy Habits

 Creating new healthy habits sounds simple enough but it’s a lot easier in theory than it is in practice, especially when your busy.

You might start off with the best of intentions but then after a few weeks, you slip back into your old habits of finishing off the kid’s peanut butter toast or inhaling a packet of chips without blinking an eye. Developing and sticking to new healthy habits is not for the faint-hearted, it’s tough and it can be a little boring, especially when you realise you can no longer smash back a snickers bar at the check-out while you’re waiting to be served.

The benefits, however, will be a healthier and happier you, I promise.

5 simple and practical ways you can create new healthy habits.

1. Keep it simple

All the clichés in the world aren’t enough to adequately describe how important it is that you should not try to change every single bad habit you have in one sitting.

Be specific and simple in your goals, make it drinking more water, stopping chocolate and wine during the weekdays or reducing your coffee intake. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day – sorry I couldn’t help it!

2. Preparation is paramount

As you throw together school lunches and feed fighting kids in the morning, it’s so easy to eat whatever is in front of you – often that’s rejected toast, cereal or leftover pizza (yum).

The trick is to have your smoothie all ready to go in the morning so you’re not tempted to indulge in other foods. Fresh fruit for your smoothies can be packaged the night before and frozen.

If you need some tips on smoothie prep check out my coming post on meal prepping like a QUEEN

Setting a day and time each week for meal prep can save you so much time during the week and help you stay on track with your healthy eating plan.

3. Come up with a ritual

You don’t have to wear a feather in your hair and chant around the house every time you’re about to make yourself a salad, but make it the same way every time and soon your healthy new habit will stick.

It will become second nature and become embedded in the way your brain. Having habits save time and energy which is perfect for busy women.

4. Swap out a bad habit for a good one

It’s super easy to lie to yourself that you deserve to eat six chocolate biscuits or drink some wine because you’ve had a crappy day, but you’ll feel worse afterward.

When the urge hits you like a ball to the head, down tools and head outside for a walk around the block or do some star jumps or plank for 10 minutes instead.  Remember, a bad day does not make a bad week.

5. Ignore the enablers

We all know that well-meaning person who tells us we look great and should not feel guilty about having some treats because we deserve it. These people are enablers and when you’re trying to create a healthy habit they should be avoided at all costs.

This might be hard if you’re married to one, but remember that they aren’t doing you any favours, so stand strong or remind them to join your team and help to reinforce your new healthy choices instead of giving you a ‘get out of jail free’ card.