Easter Break . . . A Bad Habit!

Easter is a big break in the middle of the working year. For some, it’s a time to relax with family and friends. For others, Easter can mark a “time to renew commitments to new goals”.

So, if you’ve been meaning to quit your pack-a-day habit, or stop eating your weight in chocolate or even stay on your fitness routine, its now time for your “Easter Break – A Bad Habit Challenge”.

Here are some handy tips to help you stay committed and on track with your health and well being goals.

1. Don’t try to change everything at once: It’s easy to become over-confident and decide to stop eating chicken wings, go running and quit smoking all at once. But hold your horses. Change is gradual. It’s important you don’t try to end all your ill habits at once or you might not succeed breaking any. Instead, make a priority list. What is costing you the most in terms of health, money and time? Pick up one and aim to put it to sleep once and for all.

2. Publicise: It’s always better to have someone to whom you are accountable for breaking your bad habit. Tell a friend or a Facebook friends about your new Easter resolution. Train with an exercise buddy and keep each other on track. That way, you will be answerable to your friends or buddy whenever you feel like caving in.

3. Take baby steps: So you’ve picked a bad habit to be broken. Great! Just don’t aim to end it forever. Of course, the idea is that you never bite your nails again, or never indulge in shopping too much or exercise three times a week, but your subconscious doesn’t want to hear that all at once. Tell yourself “I will shop within my budgetary limit today” or “I will not drink alcohol tonight.” Go one step at a time. Divide your challenge into doable, small portions and take it from there.

4. Be gentle on yourself: Let’s face it: There is a high probability you will give in sooner or later. You won’t be able to stop yourself always and in a way, it is good not to force yourself harshly. Be gentle on yourself if you cave in. It’s okay if you missed your run one morning – it doesn’t mean you will miss it the next day as well. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.

5. Know your motives: There are mothers who’ve lost weight in order to play with their children, fathers who’ve given up being a workaholic just to spend time with their family . What’s your motivation? It could be anything that tickles your fancy: money, health, time, looks. You decide.

Make sure you have your goal in front of you every time: Stick reminders on the fridge, “Another cookie and you won’t be able to the 5km run with Jo”; schedule reminders on the smart phone “Step into Life Training. For Tina! ” Do whatever it takes to remind yourself why you’re into it in the first place.

This Easter, make sure you break a bad habit and keep moving forward towards your goals!