Committing to huge goals to improve your health can bring big benefits, but we don’t always stick with them long enough to see those. While deciding to follow a plant-based diet may be easy, lots of people who do may find themselves reaching for bacon at breakfast, and there’s a reason for that. Therapist Israa Nasir explains, “Many people struggle with motivation because they set goals that are too ambitious or require drastic lifestyle changes.”
But something known as a micro-habit can help. According to Nasir, micro-habits “remove the overwhelm” and help close the gap between intention and action. Essentially, they’re small, easily repeatable actions that “require minimal effort but have a compounding positive impact,” and doing them consistently makes a big impact. Plus, micro-habits are easy to fit into your existing routine, so they don’t feel overwhelming like big habit changes do.
These are some micro-habits that come with the biggest rewards for our health and happiness, according to experts.
- Take a breath before reacting or making a decision - If you often find yourself agreeing to something you really don’t want to do, this one’s for you. Just take one big, deep breath before answering or reacting to something in a pressure-filled moment. That breath packs some power, like helping to regulate emotions and reduce stress, which can help you get a handle on your emotions before responding.
- Write down one thing you’re grateful for every day - It’s quick and easy, but helps you practice gratitude in a specific way that can help you focus on the positive and feel fulfilled.
- Do a quick stretch every hour - Sitting at a desk job all day takes a toll, but getting up to stretch helps boost circulation and focus, too.
- Spend time unplugged from your phone - Make it a manageable goal by having no-phone zones at home or making a micro-habit of putting your phone down while you eat or watch your favorite show.
- Drink more water - This one is good for your physical health, but it can be hard to achieve, so try drinking a glass of water when you wake up and one with every meal.
- Read a page of a book every night before bed - It can help get you back into the habit of reading without having to commit to the entire book at once.
Source: Huff Post
Scott's Thoughts:
- If you need me, I’ll be taking a deep breath before responding or reacting from now on!
- I try really hard to think before I talk.
- Start small and work up!