How Building Good Habits Can Change Your Life for the Better
The question is often asked, “What will it take to change my life?” It’s a difficult question that can be answered with a variety of answers. However, one answer that many people don’t think about is the power of establishing good habits. Habits are something we typically do without thinking and they establish themselves when we repeat an action multiple times until it becomes routine. In this blog post I’m going to explore how building good habits in your life can not only change your life for the better but also make you happier with who you are!
The Power of Habit: The dictionary defines a habit as, “a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance.” What this means is when you learn to develop good habits they become an easier way for you to function daily. Rather than having to think about what your next action is you can just follow your habits. This is beneficial because it frees up mental space so you have more time to focus on what matters most in life. You might be thinking, “That sounds great but how do I develop good habits?” The easiest way to develop new habits is by starting small and working towards building a routine that works for you.
Routine is key because habits are what you do often. If you’re trying to build a new habit of working out every day, it’s probably best if that workout time becomes part of your daily routine rather than adding another task on top of all the ones you already have! This way the action becomes easier and then builds upon itself when other habits start to develop.
Women and Habits: When it comes down to habits, the main difference between the sexes is that women tend to be more self-conscious about what they do on a daily basis. This can lead them to feel overwhelmed and self conscious which then becomes stress . One study found that “when women were asked how good their habits were, they felt that habits play a role in their self-perceptions.” This means that when women have better habits and routines it can lead to feeling more confident from the inside out. In turn this helps them manage every day stressors better.
Another study found similar results by saying “women who establish a consistent routine had higher quality of life and self-perceived body image.” If you want to lead a happier life with more confidence, habits are the way to go.
How Can I Start Building Better Habits? When starting out with habits it’s important you find what works best for your lifestyle. There is no “one size fits all” routine that will work but there are a few habits that can help you set the stage for success!
The first is establishing a morning routine. This means waking up at roughly the same time everyday and doing some sort of activity before going to work or school. Having this routine will make your day go by much smoother because it’s something familiar that your body knows what to do with.
The second is creating habits that work for you. This means making a list of habits and then evaluating which ones will be the best fit in your life right now, not what others think would be good habits to have! Some people like working out every day while others prefer working out three times a week. Whatever works for you, go with it!
Finally, habits need to be realistic. It’s important that whatever habits you’re building have a degree of difficulty so they can actually become habits but also something you know you can do every day. If your habits are too hard or impossible for your lifestyle then it will seem impossible and defeating from the start which is not what we want here!
People with better habits are happier and lead more fulfilling lives. If you want to feel confident, happy, and fulfilled then habits might just be the right thing for you!
I hope this has helped you understand habits better and given you some ideas on how to start building yours!
For more support on building habits and being a part of an online community, you can join BALB online fitness studio and work with other women to start building the life you deserve!
Michelle Latocha
Coach + Motivator
Be Active Live Better
