How to Make Healthy Habits Stick. Finding joy in the process.

Have you ever wondered how to make healthy habits stick? 🤔

Most people know what they should be doing, but building sustainable habits is harder than it looks.

I'm sure you know people who can create a new workout routine or adopt a new diet effortlessly.

What's their secret?

There are many techniques for healthy habit formation. When I work with clients, I help them find ways to adopt new behaviors so they get the changes they want.

Simple Strategies for Healthy Habit Formation

There are lots of different strategies that work for behavior change for better health.

• Habit stacking - one of the most effective ways to make habits stick is to pair a new habit with something you already do, like taking vitamins with your breakfast.

• Make it obvious - visual cues make healthy habits easier to maintain, so put those vitamin bottles on the placemat where you eat.

• Make it easy - when healthy choices are convenient, building sustainable habits becomes easier. I advise my clients to always have a 'pantry meal' like canned tuna or peanut butter on hand.

• Create a prompt - instead of having coffee in your pajamas, get dressed in walking clothes. When you finish your cup, go for a walk. Over time, finishing a cup of coffee = time to take a walk.

Read more about how to build sustainable, healthy habits in The Science of Habits. 

Why Healthy Habits Don't Last

These strategies work, but many people still struggle with making healthy habits last.

It could be because they're missing one powerful ingredient: Joy.

I was working with a client the other day who lives in New Hampshire. In southeastern Pennsylvania, we have snow covered by a thick layer of ice. In New England, they have piles of soft, skiable snow. My client loves to cross-country ski, and she and her husband have been able to indulge in their favorite activity almost every day for the past month.

She was glowing as she told me about it. Yes, she was able to meet her exercise goals, but something bigger was happening. She said, "I've felt so much more motivated for planning my meals, shopping, and tracking what I eat. Habits that had nothing to do with exercise suddenly became easier when she was filled with the joy of taking care of herself by doing something she loved.

Joy is a strategy!

The moment when my clients shift from this is hard work to it feels amazing to take care of myself is the moment when they stop following a new diet or exercise plan and start living in a way that they will sustain for the long-term.

I get so excited when that happens for my clients.

Learning how to make healthy habits stick isn’t about willpower — it’s about making strategic changes and finding positive reinforcement in the process.

Cross-country skiing isn't the thing for everyone, but finding your joy will make doing hard things possible.