5 Ways To Open Your Mind to a New Healthy Habit

1. The 5 Whys: Your inner toddler

A goal is high-level but if it was easy, you'd have it done by now. To get a goal to stick, you have to understand why you haven't done it already.

So channel your inner toddler and ask the 5 (or as many as you want!) Whys.

I want to lost weight.

#1 Why?

Because I don't feel good in my body.

#2 Why?

My clothes don't fit and I run out of breath going up the stairs.

#3 Why?

Because I don't exercise and we order take-out all the time.

#4 Why?

Because I don't have time to go to the gym or go food shopping.

#5 Why?

I work long hours and my commute is exhausting.

So, you want to lose weight so that your clothes fit and you don't lose your breath going up the stairs but your commute and hours make it hard to exercise and food shop.

Now! You make a plan.

2. Be SMART - and we mean the opposite of genius!

Have you heard of SMART goals? Businesses use them but you can use them in your personal life too.

• Specific or Simple

• Measurable or Meaningful
• Achievable
• Time-based
• Reasonable

Here are two examples to get you started from real students:

• I will practice yoga two times a week for the next 3 weeks.
• I will take 5 deep breathes before walking into my office for the next 5 days.

• To save time, I will use a grocery delivery service. I will place my food order on Sunday for the next 3 weeks.
• I will book two yoga sessions a week for the next three weeks.

3. Make a contract with yourself - seriously

All sorts of studies have shown that you actually write something down it helps anchor it in your mind. So write your SMART goal on a piece of a paper, or as a sticky note and then SIGN it.

4. Find a Partner in (Good) Crime!

I don't know about you, but whenever I've made promises with my best friend to go to yoga, we always end up getting nachos instead. So, she's not the kind of partner I need on this fitness journey!!

Find someone who will be disappointed if you don't keep your promises. Someone who will notice when you are not sticking with it.

When you schedule a session, your teacher is waiting for you. She or he has set aside this hour just for you and will notice if you cancel or don't show.

There are tons of scientific studies that prove this again and again. But better yet – just find out for yourself. You can book a session with a teacher right now. the

5. Plan it out in advance

It's so simple but so powerful! Seeing it on your calendar can give a little extra motivation boost!

Right after you sign your contract is step 3, plan it out! Add it to calendar, book your sessions in advance, set reminders on your phone! Anything small that can help reduce the friction.