How do you make exercise a habit?
A habit is something you practice regularly that becomes hard to give up.
Your brain rewires to make the new habit part of regular thought.
Want to make exercise a habit? You are best to start today.
Well first, what is a habit?
A habit is something that is repeatedly done to the point it becomes nearly or completely involuntary.
You have lots of habits in your day and some are as simple as brushing your teeth before bed; these are automatic thoughts because you are used to doing them.
How does a habit rewire the brain?
Habits are found in an area of your brain called the basal ganglia, but they do not start there.
It starts in your prefrontal cortex when you learn or do something new or unusual, and this takes a lot of thought.
Your brain creates stronger neural connections on paths repeatedly followed. Like memory when you think about something often it becomes easier to remember.
The connection gets stronger and easier to follow until it becomes habitual.
Why can it be so hard to create a habit?
There are a few reasons:
1. Habits sometimes work against us too. Each day you put it off (I will do it tomorrow) reinforces your procrastination making it harder to start, so it is easiest to start today.
2. Exercise can be hard to start, being something new, and can bring anxiety and fear. This is why it is important to make a plan, sign up for workouts, and let other people know your plan at the start.
3. It takes time. You start building a habit the first week but it takes roughly 3 weeks for a habit to form, and roughly 2 months to be reinforced enough to become a part of your daily routine.
4. It takes your own conscious thought and motivation at the start.
Ok, how do I make exercise a habit?
Well it is actually easiest to start today.
Create a goal, make it measurable and practice it daily.
It helps to create time cues; workout or walk at 6pm each night.
Start with something small. Each day becomes easier and each habit you create makes starting a new one easier.
Write down your goals and explain why you want to reach them, or what the intended benefit is for you. If your goal is to be physically active for 21 days, the benefit may be to feel better.
If you become discouraged, look back at your goals and the reasons why you started.
Now pick a habit and start!
Understanding how a habit forms makes you much more likely to succeed.
Improving your well-being comes down to the habits you practice and work on every day. Focus on one or two changes at the start and add more as they become habits.
You are are not always stuck where you are. Sometimes you just need a boost in the right direction. This info is your boost to continue improving your well-being.
