Making positive changes and sticking to them

Most people tend to find it hard to embrace change. This is why we’ve looked into a number of tips to help you make and stick to positive changes.

Change is an ongoing process. It requires plenty of devotion and time. To implement a successful change, you will need to be realistic about your goal and will need to gradually implement it into your routine until it becomes an integral part of your normal life.

Even though it won’t happen overnight, the important thing is to know that you are making important steps towards your end goal.

Here are some tips on how to make a lasting change:

Remember – It’s your choice

Remember that it’s always your choice; you are in control of who you are. You are choosing to change because you want to – it’s something that will have a positive impact on your life.

Start with bite-sized goals

Change will not happen overnight. Be realistic with your goals. If you start running, don’t attempt to run a marathon a week within a month – start off with 10-15 minutes twice or three times a week and build up from there.

Associate your new change with something you already do

It might help if you attach your new action to something you already do. For example, you could start doing 10 press-ups and sit-ups before you have your morning shower, or meditate for a short while after work with your first hot drink of the evening.

Reward yourself

Think of a reward that if you don’t receive, you will miss. This could range from getting your morning coffee to a cinema trip at the end of the week. But try not to think of a reward that’s inconsistent with your goal. For instance, don’t offer yourself a takeaway pizza as a reward if you’re trying to lose weight.

Accountability

Make what you’re doing public. Let your friends and family know what your aims are – this will hopefully give you more motivation to accomplish it. If you’re not feeling up to it, call a friend for a bit of encouragement. That is usually what it takes to get going again. If you can find someone who is trying to reach the same goal as you, even better.

If you feel you need some accountability to implement change in your life, a life coach may be able to help. To find a life coach in your area, please use our advanced search tool.

Read and comment on the original MindBodyGreen article.