3 TOP TIPS for long term behaviour change. Healthier lifestyle, being fitter, happier and more
DO YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?
- ARE YOU SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED!
- I WANT A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE!
- I WANT ACHIEVE RATHER THAN SELF SABOTAGE!
- I WANT TO FEEL BETTER!
- I WANT TO FEEL HAPPIER!
We can get stuck in cycles that then make behaviour change very difficult, particularly if we have tried and failed in the past...
! PUT THE PAST BEHIND, IT IS IN THE PAST !
Tip 1 - Choose 1 change thing to begin with (changing a whole diet might be too overwhelming to begin with). When you make one change and it lasts week, make further improvement on that change or add another. We climb ladders and mountains 1 step at a time... After 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months you will have made a much bigger noticeable change with a lot more ease.
Tip 2 - Self-Efficacy or Intrinsic Motivators. If someone tells you 'you have to....' or 'you should....' it can make it difficult to maintain change as we are doing it for someone else's reason and not why we are doing it for ourselves. We are with our own thoughts 24/7 every day of the week, so can't have someone else motivating us when we need it. Hence when you find the deep down reason why you want to make a particular change, you just need to remind yourself why it is important to you.
Tip 3 - Choose a goal you know is achievable and make sure you are confident about this goal. That way, if you hear yourself making excuses or blaming someone else, you know you need to tweek your goal or maybe this goal it isn't right for you at this present moment. But take responsibility for yourself and give yourself a little pat on the back each time you are successful (yes, like you would to a child}. Celebrating each achievement means we are relying on ourselves to feel good about ourselves and will give you little positive rushes of hormones to your brain, which will also help with longer term maintenance of changes.
A BONUS PIECE OF ADVICE = DON'T GIVE IN TO SELF SABOTAGE....
So if your target was reducing to 3 biscuits a day and you ate more, consider what situation you were in, what was happening with your thoughts and how eating more made you feel about yourself. Use the experience as a lesson into understanding yourself, appreciate the learning and then carry on with a wonderful day. 1 slip up does not have to affect the whole day and can still be grateful that you ate less than you would have done before (and pat yourself on the back).
I worked in an NHS mental trust for 14 years. This approach to problem solving and behaviour change 1 started in my role as a Health Trainer based in GP surgeries and the local community. The style of working went deeper into the study of Motivational Interviewing as a Wellbeing Facilitator and Wellbeing Navigator. This style of problem solving was then used as an Employment Advisor supporting patients with their work place issues alongside their mental health therapy.
If you would like to book me for a consultation, 1-1, group sessions, workplace or online sessions please find my contact and more details
🕯️LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BRIGHT ✨
