Spring into Success: Proven Tips for Building Healthy Habits and Achieving Your Goals

Spring into Success: Proven Tips for Building Healthy Habits and Achieving Your Goals

by Sarah Verberght in News

Spring Into Change: Tips for Building New Habits

Spring is here, a perfect time for diet and lifestyle changes or setting new goals. Each year, millions start with high hopes, but many struggle to stay on track. To ensure you're among the successful changers, here are tips to help you make lasting changes in nutrition, exercise, or even learning a new skill.

Routine Over Everything

To make change successful, it must become a natural part of your daily life, as if on "autopilot." Your new routine should be enjoyable and potentially the best part of your day. It needs to feel as natural as breathing or brushing your teeth before bed.

What Makes a Routine Stick?

A routine becomes part of your daily life when it feels unnatural not to do it. Don't be discouraged if your goal hasn't become a habit right away. Developing new habits takes time and effort. It may feel awkward at first, but with persistence, it will become second nature.

The 3R Method

Establish your new habit using the 3R method:

  • Reminder: Define a specific goal and attach it to a particular situation.
  • Routine: Repeat the action steps consistently.
  • Reward: Acknowledge the positive outcomes to stay motivated.

For instance, if your goal is to consume 30 grams of fiber daily, start by adding vegetables to your breakfast. Over time, this will become a routine, and the improved wellbeing you feel will serve as your reward.

Small Steps

Change is easier when you take small, manageable steps. Break your goal into achievable targets. For example, focus on improving one meal at a time. Once that feels natural, move on to the next. This approach builds confidence and inspires further progress.

21/90 Rule

Habits take time. On average, it takes 21 days to form a habit and 90 days to make it a solid part of your life. Be patient and focus on consistency rather than perfection during this period.

Documentation

Setbacks are common, but they’re not failures. Keep a journal of your achievements to track progress and maintain perspective. Checking off each successful day can help you see that you're doing better than you think.

Tips to Overcome Challenges

  • Find a partner: A buddy for exercise or dietary goals provides mutual motivation.
  • Set modest goals: Achieving smaller goals builds confidence and prevents burnout.
  • Focus on one goal: Tackle changes one at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
  • Seek professional help: Consult dietitians, trainers, or psychologists to guide your journey.

+1 Active Tip

Include a simple action in your routine to ensure daily adherence. For instance, if you're aiming to improve your fiber intake, keep a supply of FiberShake at home to help you meet your daily goal effortlessly.

Special thanks to Trenka Andrea Petra, Dietitian and Behavioral Analyst, for this professional article!

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