Habits are regular practices that we are so used to doing that it takes little to no thought. Once established, they can also be hard to break. We can have healthy or unhealthy physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual habits
Healthy habits boost our mental, physical, and emotional well-being, such as:
Physical practices – adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, regular exercise
Thinking and emotional habits – mindfulness, gratitude, optimism, acceptance, openness to change
Self-management habits – balancing our work and personal lives, setting boundaries well with others, positive stress management tools, communication skills
Spiritual practices – prayer, Bible study, regular Christian fellowship
When we are under stress, we default to our habits to free up our brainpower to focus on our stressors. If those coping habits are unhealthy, such as “stress eating”, we actually become less resilient rather than more. In contrast, if we have practice healthy habits, we are carried through our stressors with strength.
To develop habits effectively:
1. Associate new habits with existing ones. For example, floss while brushing daily.
2. Focus on one change at a time to avoid being overwhelmed or discouraged.
3. Create a gradual plan for change. Start very small, first creating the habit, then increase frequency, duration, or difficulty.
4. Ensure enjoyment in your new habits for sustainability. Modify as needed, such as flavoring water with fruit if plain water isn’t appealing.
Reward yourself for your accomplishments. The self-esteem boost of success creates more success.
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