The new year is often a peak time for health and wellness businesses, as many people have a rush of energy and inspiration to make their new year’s resolutions a reality.
Gyms are full, classes are booked, programs start, however, come March, the question of long-term change and consistency comes in.
When I work one-on-one with my holistic health coaching clients, our focus is not only on how to create habits, but how to integrate them into their lifestyle and make them stick.
When I ask at the start of our programs what’s the hardest part about creating consistency, I hear the same responses over and over again —time and discipline.
Underlying beliefs
Before we get into the what and how of habits, I like to dig in to understand underlying beliefs about why a healthy lifestyle is or isn’t possible.
A mindset shift I share with my clients to kickoff rethinking their habit goals: ditch the challenge mentality! As a culture, we see the idea of a “quick fix” everywhere.
Short term challenges, promises of extreme weight loss and programs that can solve it all in the span of days or weeks. While a short term challenge can certainly help get you started, keeping what’s sustainable for the long term top of mind is important for impactful change to happen.
Do you have a habit in mind that you’ve started or want to start? Here are 3 tips to support creating consistent healthy habits:
Planning and preparation — Consider how you can make your desired habit an easy daily or weekly choice. Take exercise, for example. Before jumping into an exercise routine, you first need to know what you’re going to do (ex. going to the gym, running, or taking a yoga class), and then how you’ll do it (ex. knowing the class times, getting a membership if needed, buying running shoes). One thing many people skip over is considering how to create time for it. Aside from putting in on your calendar, preparation can also look like arranging your schedule differently or determining a plan B in case of weather, class cancellations, etc.
Environment Optimization — This is one of my favorite areas to explore with clients. What can you physically change in your space to make your habit more obvious and attractive? This can be anything from packing your gym clothes and putting them in your car to setting up a glass of water and vitamins to take first thing in the morning. These are typically easy, practical shifts to make in your home or office environment built to support the habits you’re trying to create.
Accountability- Accountability can come in many forms when starting a routine. It can be by working with a coach or trainer, or finding a friend who is working on the same goal. It can also come in the form of telling your friends and family about your habit, and asking for their support or joining a community of like minded individuals. Accountability is typically recommended at the start of building a habit to keep consistency, and to build momentum with the change.
I’ve found, in my work, that focusing on habits allows clients to dig deeper into their daily choices. In the process, they start to examine their beliefs, build powerful self trust and find ways to access more joy on a daily basis. It goes much deeper than just starting a routine. It’s examining their mindset along the way and making important strides towards a healthier lifestyle.
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Livia Marati is a women’s holistic health coach and founder of Ina Wellness Collective. You can send her questions and comments at livia@inawellnesscollective.com.