If, like most of us, you often promise to make big, sweeping lifestyle changes – eat less, exercise more, be kinder, work harder – then you’ll know how difficult it is to stick to new ways of doing things. But have you ever considered that, by being too ambitious, you’re simply setting yourself up for failure?
‘Trying to change too much, all at once, is a sure-fire way not to succeed,’ says behaviour change specialist Dr Heather McKee (drheathermckee. co.uk). ‘Research shows that it takes between 66 and 122 days to make a habit stick, but there’s more to it than that – simple habits can be changed more quickly, while complex ones can take longer.’ Here, Heather lets us in on the secrets to creating a new norm.
MAKE IT ENJOYABLE
Making habit changes shouldn’t be a punishment – if you have a reason to make a change, it should be because you want to do it. ‘Trying to establish a habit you don’t enjoy is a recipe for failure,’ says Heather. ‘Hate running on a treadmill? Choose something you like instead, such as going for long country walks. It’ll be less of a battle to make it a new habit as your brain will enjoy the reward.’
Bite-size habits
Denne historien er fra Issue 286-utgaven av Woman One Shot UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 286-utgaven av Woman One Shot UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tropic like it's hot!
These stars ooze bikini-body confidence... but what's their secret?
Half the size TWICE AS STRONG
For Samantha Morris, 34, hitting the gym is about more than keeping fit
WALK THIS WAY
Work smarter-not harder to reach your recommended 10,000 daily steps target
FLATTUM noodle pot
Want an easy, nutritious lunch? Look no further - this recipe not only tastes amazing, it's great for your waistline, too
Guilt-free SWEETFIX
These delicious desserts have all of the taste and hardly any sticky stuff
From recluse to SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
Eating to numb her feelings left Clare Wordley, 48, more miserable than ever
Holiday FAST FIX
Summer getaway approaching? Shape up in no time with our simple plan
What's the best diet for YOUR HEALTH?
The right eating plan can change your wellbeing for the better
More confident THAN EVER
After years of yo-yo dieting, Linda Robson says she’s finally happy with her figure
'I feel FANTASTIC'
Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid reveals the secrets behind her slimmed-down figure