Chicago Home and Lifestyles – New habits, start small

Now that we have our goals for the new year, how do we go about achieving them? This will involve forming good habits. Notice I didn’t say cure bad habits. From working out to eating better, the best way to change is by being positive and starting small!

Let’s say you want to drink more water every day. Many people buy a huge jug, fill it up and drag it around all day. At the end of the day, you haven’t finished even half the water. You become discouraged and there goes another goal! Instead, try saying I will drink a glass of water when I get up in the morning. Do this every morning, and after a month it will become a habit. Add another glass here and there. Drink before and after meals. Before you know it, you will be hydrated every day! 

Exercise is always at the top of everyone’s list this time of year. Fitness centers make most of their money in January. Setting a schedule to work out is all well and good, but many of us give up rather quickly when life happens, and our good intentions go out the door. If you do want to work out try not to have such a rigid schedule. People who work out when they have time tend to work out more than those who set an exact time. Why not try just walking around the block or hitting a tennis ball against a wall for 10 minutes? Small changes add up!

If you want to read more, tell yourself something like: I’ll just read a page. Stop after that if you want or you can continue. Maybe you want to meditate. Start by taking 3 calming breaths at a certain time, maybe after turning off your device at night. After a while this becomes a habit, and you can always do more. 

We may want to tackle our messy house and become tidier. Cleaning the entire house is daunting and you may give up not long after you start. Try just cleaning up a small area. Just putting a few things in their proper place can get you into the habit!

So, start out small and keep going as you can. When you accomplish even small things make sure you celebrate! Positive self-talk will give you the motivation to keep going. Video games are famous for telling us how awesome we are doing to get you to play longer. You can do different things. (Even pumping your fist in the air makes you feel great, as silly as it sounds.) Just remember to give yourself plenty of love and grace. Your thought process will change. I can be a tidy person. I can get healthier. I can achieve my goals. Just start small.

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago