How to Build Healthy Habits

If you're considering dropping some of your self-defeating habits for healthier ones, now is the time to do it. The planning stage of any endeavor is only meant to be the first step on a journey, but some people stay stuck in preparation mode and never get to the main event. Your first healthy habit should include making a commitment to yourself to acknowledge what you want to change about your life. Write it down in a journal, then take your first action step within 24 hours.

Instructions

1

Start your day an hour earlier. That extra hour is the slot where you can fit in all those activities that you say you have no time for, such as meditating, exercise or reading. If one of the healthy habits you long to implement involves stressing less, then waking up early will give you that advantage. Instead of hitting the snooze button, rushing to shower, getting dressed and perhaps missing breakfast, get up early and ease into your day.

2

Keep a food journal. Accountability is key for healthy habit keeping. Whether you want to lose weight or gain it, or whether you're concerned about your dietary choices or can't remember what you eat from day to day, keeping a journal for a minimum of six months will become a habit you won't want to break. According to "Science Daily," a study done by Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research found that people who kept track of what they ate were more likely to lose weight.

3

Stop gossiping. Practice what yogis call ahimsa, or non-violence, towards others and yourself. Judging others is a drag on your soul; worse, it keeps you from working on your own self-development. Walking away from negativity becomes a healthy habit that will lift your spirits and contribute to the development of a less stressful life.

4

Spend less. Without a monetary management system, your spending can grow out of control. Create a budget to help you discern the best routes for your money to take. According to the University of Illinois Extension's website "Getting Through Tough Financial Times," making a list of your most critical expenses is key to managing your income. Concentrate on your needs first, then work out a strategy for fulfilling your wants.