5 tips for building healthy habits

there’s no better time than now to begin working towards a healthier lifestyle. it’s one thing to say you’ll do something, and another thing to follow through. oftentimes, when it comes to a healthier lifestyle, most fall into the latter category (i’ve been there, trust me). the more that you repeat an action, the more likely that it is to stick. the key to building healthy habits is by taking small intentional steps daily, that over time turn into habits on auto-pilot. today i’ll be sharing my top 5 tips for building healthy habits. when followed in order, you’ll be on your way to an overall happier, healthier, and fulfilled life!

1. define your goals & your why

what does a healthy lifestyle look like for you? when you take the time to sit and think about this, it is easier to plan out what actionable steps you can take to achieve these goals. create a master list of goals that are easily accessible (ex. on a post it, in your notes app, in your planner), so that you can always make reference & remember to work towards them. setting short term and long term goals are also important, so that you are being realistic in how long it will take to achieve them. the most important step in this process is defining your why. remembering this will help you to stay motivated & inspired, even when the going gets tough.

2. create a plan

now that you’ve defined your goals, it’s time to create a plan to help you achieve them. if your goal is to workout four times a week, be sure to note which days the workouts will take place on, how long you will exercise for, and what the exercise is. if you’d like to get 8 hours of sleep every night, plan ahead of time when you will need to go to sleep to achieve this. in the beginning stages especially, setting alarms or calendar reminders will help to keep you on track, and turn your actions into solid habits. a great resource for planning out your healthy habits is using the free templates on canva. i often will go the extra step and create a workout calendar here, and set it as my phone background so that it’s always easy to remember.

3. start small, & make it easy

one of the fastest ways to give up on your goals is by taking on too much at once. in my personal experience, i’ve found that starting small helps lead to bigger change over time. taking five minutes to stretch in the morning, for example, could be the beginning steps to a daily 30-minutes pilates workout. if there are certain unhealthy foods that you’d like to stop eating, set a limit on how many times you can have it in one month, versus going for a hard stop- as this often leads to binging. when limited, it is easier to hold yourself accountable, and eventually get you to where you want to be. the less obstacles there are in your way, the easier it will be to stick to your plan. if you sleep in your gym clothes, it’s more likely that you’ll actually make it in. if you want to drink more water everyday, consider getting a water bottle with time markers that will help you to follow through.

4. be patient & reward yourself

as the old saying goes, rome wasn’t built in a day. when it comes to forming healthier habits, a lot of the time we don’t give ourselves grace. we expect the change (a lot of the times physically) to come instantly, and when we don’t see the results, we are left discouraged and disappointed. one of the best ways to combat this is not only by setting realistic goals, but focusing on what habits have been sticking, and how it has made you feel. you may not have lost 15 pounds yet, but you’ve been in the gym consistently, waking up earlier, and overall have been feeling more energetic & alive. now that’s something to celebrate! speaking words of love over yourself and your journey is key. be sure to reward yourself along the way with a form of self-care, you deserve it!

5. keep going, no matter what

as with any situation in life, setbacks happen. there will be some days where you miss a workout, overeat, or don’t get enough sleep, and that’s okay. too often, we dwell on these things, beat ourselves up over it, and end up falling off track for a long period of time. know that these setbacks do not define your journey. no matter what obstacle that you’re faced with, or how long it’s been since you’ve followed through, you can always start back up and keep working towards your goals. remember your why, and keep on going. you can, and will achieve all that you set out to!

what is one healthy habit you currently have, or are looking to add into your routine?