Change Your Behavior to Change Your Habits
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Some of the links below are affiliate links meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you purchase something using the link. Read the full disclaimer policy here.
Now that the new year is here, it is time to think about introducing some healthy habits into your routine. The best way to do that is to look at your current behaviors and figure out what needs to be adjusted since changing your habits is all about changing your behaviors.
Behavior Change is a Process
The first thing you need to know about behavior change is that it is a process, and one that times time.
It requires practice, persistence, and an understanding that it isn’t going to change overnight. The reason people struggle with changing their habits is because they don’t bother looking at their behaviors. The cues and triggers that cause them to make certain choices.
By first developing the mindset that it is a longer process and about changing your behaviors into healthier ones, you will be able to change your habits much more effectively.
The Stages of Change
There are 5 main stages of change when it comes to your behavior. These include the precontemplation stage, contemplation stage, determination, action, and maintenance.
Precontemplation: You are just starting to think about what you want to change. You might feel like you need to eat healthier to lose a little weight, but haven’t really thought it through yet.
Contemplation: You think about it more, and actually decide on the behaviors or habits that will help you make the change.
Determination: You get excited about what this behavior change will mean.
Action: You start putting the plan into action.
Maintenance: Many people forget this one. It is often the most difficult when it comes to changing behavior and where people might slip up.
How This Helps to Change Your Habits
Get Your Free PDF Journal for the New Year
Why does behavior change help when it comes to changing your habits?
Because habits are behaviors, whether subconscious or not. They are something you learned in your life, that you kept doing for whatever reason. Some of them are good, like brushing your teeth every morning when you get up. You probably barely have to think about it, because you have been doing it for so long. But others are bad habits or behaviors, like feeling that you need dessert after dinner. This is probably more of a behavior habit than anything else.
Loving Life — The Reboot!
Dominique
PS. Don’t forget your free journal! Get your new year started right!
8 Comments
Renee
I am taking action this week to stop drinking and start exercising! Excited for change!
Dominique
Congratulations! I am going to be exercising starting this week!
siennylovesdrawing
Absolutely spotted on your sharing points here, behaviours drive results, since new year 2021, am gonna reflect on habits I would like to be removed, your tips gonna be helpful for a new me 😀 cheers, siennylovesdrawing
Eric Gamble
Hit the nail on my head for sure when you said that Maintenance is the most difficult when it comes to changing behavior and where people might slip up. I have no problems with dreaming, Determination of the goal and even initial action. But when it comes to maintenance, I have shiny object syndrome and that can often distract me from creating a strong consistent habit.
bye:myself - Renata
Somehow these times are so crazy and insecure that personal progress seems even harder to accomplish than during ‘normal’ times. On the other hand, it would be exactly this focusing on things that make us grow resp. do us good that might help exactly in this moment of crisis.
Fransic verso
It makes sense if we change the behavior, it will lead to change the habits. Will definitely try this. Thank you for sharing!
Kenneth
im on it too,,im a whoophing 120 kg as of today,,i need to do something about it especially my eating habit
Monidipa
Behavior change is complicated and complex because it requires a person to disrupt a current habit while simultaneously fostering a new, possibly unfamiliar, set of actions. This process takes time—usually longer than we prefer. Something as simple as drinking an extra cup of water a day can take an average of two months to become a consistent, habitual behavior.