How can I change my health habits?

We read articles everywhere about getting a fitter body in three weeks, or eating healthier in 30 days. Adopting healthier habits can be tough, however. Try these steps to increase the odds of your success:

• Think small. Don't shoot for the moon and say you'll exercise every day. Instead, say you'll exercise twice a week.
• Try changing only one habit at a time. Don't give up junk food, adopt an exercise plan and change your bedtime all at the same time. Pick one and work toward the others.
• Write down specific steps for achieving your goal. To exercise twice weekly, for instance, you might note that you'll wake up at 7 a.m. on Monday and Thursday to walk 30 minutes before work.
• Repeat what you're aiming for as often as possible. Even if you miss a day, all isn't lost. The more you repeat a behavior, the more likely it will become natural.

When changing health habits, it's easy to be motivated for a week or so, but motivation alone won't pull you through. It simply isn't enough to keep new behaviors going. All these skills need to be included in your plan to ensure the best chance of success: setting a goal, monitoring your progress, arranging your world for success, recruiting a support team, and treating yourself. Good health doesn't happen just because you really want it, but there isn't any magic involved, either.

Think about what is most important to you, make a list. It sounds like your health is important to you think about what you can do that could make healthier changes. 

Now, pick one that you think would be the easiest and start there, small steps. Trying to make too many changes at once can be difficult and hard to maintain because habits are hard to break. They are easier if we take them on and focus on them one at a time. If you pick one to start on that is easier you will build your confidence to take on the hard ones later.