Seven Steps, Tips to Building Healthy Habits Infographic
How are you doing on building healthy habits so far this year? Over 65 percent of New Year’s resolutions are about getting in shape or losing weight (according to research by YouGov). But by now, most of these lofty or over-generalized resolutions have fizzled. I am, however, determined to stick with my goal of getting back to a healthy weight again.
I recently came across seven steps to healthy habits infographic. Many of these ideas seem obvious when they’re stated and yet I’m guilty of not necessarily thinking this way.
Seven Steps to Healthy Habits:
- Be focused and specific.
- Think tiny. Break down complex goals into simple steps.
- Start with the morning, when most people already have a set routine.
- Add a new food, activity or healthy habit rather than attempting to subtract one.
- Anchor a new behavior to the end of an existing habit.
- Create environmental cues to keep on track.
- Find a tribe online or in person for support.
The one step I’m going to add is to build a new behavior to the end of an existing habit. If I add on to my natural schedule then I’ll have a better chance of making it work! I had actually tried to do this starting in January. Once I dropped off the boys to work, I was going to take our dog Lucy for longer walks. Guess what happened. The temperatures dropped and my little Boston Terrier has not been happy with the extremely cold weather. Short walks at best in this house! Let’s get over this cold spell and start making her longer walks part of my own routine.
I’ve written several posts about how to get your New Year’s Resolutions into high gear:
- A Checklist for Setting SMART New Year’s Resolutions
- Victory! I Didn’t Gain an Ounce During Holiday Break and Vacation with 6 Tricks
- Are These Excuses Preventing You From Losing Weight?
- 10 Reasons Why You Should Make Fitness Your New Year’s Resolution
This article is a series of health-focused posts as I work my way back to living healthy. Join me in my quest!
What step are you going to add to your routine to make it work?
These are great reminders and even somethings I hadn’t thought of. I recently lost a lot of weight but more than losing weight I want to get healthy!
Congrats on your weight loss! And I agree, losing weight is important but being overall healthy is just as important, too.
I love the idea of adding new habits instead of trying to subtract other ones. It just has a more positive feel to it, don’t you think? I’d rather focus on ADDING more fruits and veggies to my diet than stressing over all the stuff I need to STOP eating. At least at the beginning, I think it really helps to focus on addition more so than subtraction.
I agree, Katie. I feel like when I deny myself it feels like a punishment rather than rewarding myself with good habits. 🙂
A lot of great information that is perfect for me. I am almost done with my first month of a healthier me.
That’s awesome. Keep up the great work!
This is really great advice. It is so easy to think about all the things you want to change but it is a lot harder to put it into motion. I love how you have it outlined in simple steps and have gave great advice for each step. It is really great to add better habits and those will eventually overtake the bad ones.
Thanks!
Great tips thank you for sharing. I learned a few new things about creating healthy habits. Will be putting these to work for me and the family
I’ve lost five pounds this past week being sick. Does that count? LOL I am actually working on slowing down. I have pushed myself too much and Need to just relax and set less goals. I don’t need to get sick all the time. That is what this last bout of illness has taught me.
Oh no. I hope you feel better! And don’t get discouraged when you gain some of that weight back… it’s often water loss.
Great post!
I’m going to pin it to our group Goals Pinterest Board.
Great break down! Thank you for linking to the Weekend re-Treat link party!
xo,
Shannon
http://www.akadesign.ca
This is a great post and infographic. I’ve been working hard on my healthy eating and exercising goals too. i’ve been using my fitness pal and it helps me so much realize how many calories i eat. My weight keeps fluctuating though I would like to lose a few pounds. Great job working on your health and losing weight!
Here’s my Friday healthy eating and exercising update if you’d like to stop by.
http://momssmallvictories.com/health-goals-weekly-update-february-14-2014/
I would love if you’d add this and up to 3 family friendly posts to my Small Victories Sunday linky which is open a little early this week!
http://momssmallvictories.com/small-victories-sunday-7-one-make-comeback/
I’m on my way to visit now! And feel free to connect with me via Fitness Pal 🙂 It’s a great app, isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing these awesome tips! Glad I found you through the Healthy, Happy, Green, & Natural Party 🙂
Thanks for the tips. I agree that creating new habits can get us on the right track if we don’t try to do it all at once. I am Pinning this!
Perfect advice! I totally needed to re-visit these tips! I love adding better behaviors instead of trying to subtract them – I had a lot of success with that when I added more water and healthy snacks to my day because it naturally took care of the poor snacking choices. Thanks so much for linking up – sharing and pinning to our Tips and Tricks Tuesday board!
Adding has made a HUGE difference for me, too. Now I have the crisper drawer full of different types of apples and I keep low-fat mozzarella sticks on hand, too.
Thanks for linking up, Jenny! Your post will be featured tonight!
Hi Jennifer,
I am so glad you featured such a helpful Healthy Habits Infographic!
Simple attention-grabbing visuals are so easy to grasp, remember and apply. Thank you so much for sharing this helpful post on the Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Blog Hop! I appreciate it! All the best, Deborah
I was glad to find your linky party! Looking forward to next week 🙂
Pinned this! Great infographic to building healthy habits. Visiting from This Momma’s Meandering Mondays.
Thanks for the pin 🙂