MAKE ACTION A HABIT
Often when we set goals we have to overcome habits that prevent us from successfully achieving them. On my weight release journey last year, I found and changed a habit that kept me overweight. I was a stress eater. When I was stressed my tiger would go on the prowl.
I used to go out for a walk around the building. I would round the corner of the building and my nose would smell it. Specialties, the cookies, the pastries,
My tiger would pounce.
It turned out this was a habit I had learned.
Habits have 3 parts:
- The Cue – something that triggers the habit. In my case it was stress.
- The Routine – what the mind and body do to relieve the cue: Walk around the building to Specialties and eating a cookie or pastry.
- The Reward – what you do that reduces or eliminates the cue. My reward was a SWEET TREAT.
The key to changing habits is not to remove the reward or the cue, but to change the routine.
When my tiger started prowling, I changed where he prowled. Instead of walking around the building, I went to the cafe next door, picked up a nice sweet, juicy apple. I sliced the apple in thin, cookie-like shapes and ate them. I love apples, they, too, are a SWEET TREAT.
I retained the same cue and reward. but I changed the routine.
What are the habits that keep you from achieving your goals? Change the routine to set a new habit that is healthier for you.
If you are working on a wellness goal such as weight loss, I understand how hard it is. However, you can do it by modifying your habits.
If you want to turn your actions into habits, you can get my 3 Pillars of Goal Setting Success on my home page. Click Here to go back to the home page and sign up for the FREE download.