STOP IT | Healing Habits Week 1

Welcome to Week 1 of our Healing Habits Journey! We are so excited that you have decided to join us.

For the beginning of this journey, we must first learn how to STOP IT.

Sounds a little wrong, doesn’t it? To start, we have to stop?

What we mean is that in order to learn new habits, we have to let go of the old ones. Maybe it’s something as small as turning off your water faucet while brushing your teeth so you don’t waste any water. Or maybe it’s something as difficult as quitting cigarettes. Either way, change is required on your end.

Many of us are guilty of unhealthy habits such smoking, drinking, eating excessive amounts of junk food… sound familiar? They are easy habits to form because they give us immediate joy. So it’s no wonder we continue to keep them up. But how does it make us feel afterwards one that good feeling is gone? Do you feel guilty or just plain gross afterwards? That is a sure sign it is not a good habit for you.

So then why is it so hard to create good habits? I’m sure we would all love to wake up early and go for that walk or run, eat a nutritious breakfast when we get home, drink all of our required water for the day and go to bed early. But do we see instant results from that? Probably not. In fact, you might feel sore from that run! Ouch!

But it’s those hard-to-see-results type of habits that are so important for our physical, emotional, and mental health. Yes, you might be sore after a good workout and it might take a few extra minutes to make that breakfast, but in the end, it’s always worth it.

Forbes has a great article on this very thing : how to create habits and make them stick.

When learning a new habit, keep a few things in mind:

1. Set realistic goals! Don’t start a workout regimen for 6 days a week. Try 2-3 days a week
2. Create small changes. Instead of NOT getting fast food every day, stop getting it 2-3 times a week to start with
3. What is your WHY? What is your motivation? Is it for your kids? For you? For your marriage? Keep that in mind as you go through this journey

As we start this journey, do one thing today. Actually, do two things. First, think of a goal or two. Secondly, write down that goal. Keep that goal with you. Keep it on your desk or put it on your fridge as a daily reminder.

Let your friends and family know about this goal. They can help hold you accountable to it and maybe even want to join you. Check in daily with us on social media to let us know how you’re doing. We can’t wait to see your progress!