Why is Habit Change SO Hard? - Jill Bannon
You are not alone if you've tried to build new habits and they just didn't stick.
It's all too familiar. You WANT to make a change. But when it's time to follow through,
You hit the snooze!🙈
You eat the cookie anyway!🍪
You skip that workout at the gym!💪
You decide it won't matter if you cancel "date night"!💑
The reason it's so hard to stay consistent with Healthy Habits is NOT what you think it is! It is
NOT because you lack motivation, drive or will power.
I promise you, there is NOTHING wrong with you. It is possible to create new habits that stick!
The reason it is so hard to stay consistent when you try to start a new habit is because
your brain gets in the way.
Your brain is wired to stay within your comfort zone.
The human brain has evolved over centuries to make sure our habits automatically focus on
survival. To the brain, survival means food, rest, defense, risk aversion, planning for scarcity,
and lots of other things that might actually be creating negative effects for you in the modern
world.
Your brain's idea of "survival" does not mean developing more productive morning routines,
working out at the gym, leaving a safe job for the potential of an exciting new opportunity,
learning a new skill, strengthening your existing personal relationships or starting new ones,
and...well, most of the things we all want to do in 2024.
But your brain doesn't care about all that. It just knows that the same old routine keeps you
alive!
Sounds weird, but your brain feeds you this story, " Why would we get up out of this nice comfy
bed to go out in the cold and start something new? Let's just stay here where we're safe and
warm like usual."
Here are 3 tips to overcome your brain’s desire to stay in the comfort zone so you can gain
leverage over your desired habit change.
1. Start with ONE small step. What’s just one behavior that if it became a habit would move
you toward your goal? Once you stay consistent with that one behavior, you’ll build more
trust in your ability to follow through and then you can stack on more. Here’s an example: If
you know you want to eat healthier, your one first step could be to start with the practice of
taking your lunch to work rather than ordering fast food.
2. Make it Specific. Now that you know what behavior you’re starting with, ask...When will I
prepare my lunches? What will I prepare? For example: You may decide to cook some
protein and cut up a big salad on Sunday for the week ahead along with a couple of healthy
snacks. You’ll have your healthy lunch all ready to go ahead of time.
3. Plan for what could get in the way! What could stop you and how can you prepare ahead
of time for a solution? For example: You know when the time comes you may tell yourself, “Why
bother, it won’t matter anyway.” Knowing this could come up for you, prepare your mindset with
a new thought, “I am committed to treating myself with healthy good food that fuels me because
I do matter!”
This is how real long lasting change happens. This is how stretching yourself to get outside of
your comfort zone can make living fully possible for life.
“Success is the product of daily habits-not once in a lifetime transformations.” James Clear
