Creating Habits that Stick

“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not” - Octavia Butler

Everything in life is a habit or becomes a habit. Learning how to control my habits and make them fun and rewarding has changed my daily routine. I am inspired to make decisions that improve my life instead of drag it down.

For example, I have struggled with eating well postpartum. I ate so many carbs, too much sugar, just wasn’t aware of how I was fueling my body. I created a habit that was dragging me down and making me feel physically rundown.

Changing my habits by experiencing the positive reward of eating healthy, journaling my food, and working with a nutritionist that keeps my on track has not only helped me lose weight but has helped me change negative habits in my life all-around.

So how do we change our habits? Something I learned in the research I’ve been doing about habit forming is the habit stacking and temptation bundling formula. It goes like this:

+ After I (CURRENT HABIT), I will (HABIT NEED).

+ After (HABIT I NEED), I will (HABIT I WANT). 

If you want to create a habit of healthy eating, but you love ice cream sundaes…

After I follow my nutrition plan for the next week, I will journal the food I’m eating. After I journal the food I’m eating, I will take myself out for an ice cream sundae one time this week.

This practice is designed to help you focus on completing your habit because you have the reward of eating the ice cream sundae once you’ve done so. Programming your brain to believe that each time you make these decisions there is a reward once per week.

What are some habits you can change using this formula?

For more information on creating healthy habits please join my accountability group where we focus on creating healthy habits!