How to start (and stick to!) healthy habits

Do you feel like it’s time to try and get a bit healthier? Eat a bit better? They’re common goals for many. And while we may feel highly motivated, it’s not always easy to get started and more importantly, keep going, beyond the first week or two. Here are some tips to help you make those healthy habits stick.

Have the right mindset (and goals)

Before you start any healthy habit change, take a moment to check in with yourself and set some intentions. What are you hoping to achieve? How will you measure your success? And are your goals realistic? Weight loss, for example, is a goal for many, but we can have unrealistic expectations of how much and how quickly we’ll lose weight, so it pays to be realistic. (Nutritionists say half to one kilo a week is a good sustainable goal). Even better, make your goals about health instead: do you want more energy to run around with the kids? Maybe you want to feel less tired and not have an afternoon energy slump at the office? These are things you’ll be able to feel after a few weeks of eating well and looking after yourself better.

Set up your environment

Want to stop snacking on junky food? Get that food out of the house. Want to stop reaching for the wine the minute you get in from work? Don’t have a bottle waiting in the fridge. Tweaking your home and work environment can really help us change our habits.

Enlist friends and family

Tell the people around you about your goals, not to bore them with the details, but with the aim of getting their support. If others know you’re trying to be healthier, they might help you. And you might even inspire them to join in.

Use a few life hacks

Don’t underestimate the power of planning and prep. Pre-chopping veges for healthy snacks; having healthy drinks chilled in the fridge and ready to drink; planning your lunches for the week and
making them each night – these are examples of small hacks that can take away the stress of having to make a choice when you’re hungry. So can meal kits like WOOP – you don’t have to think or make decisions; all you have to do is follow the directions and you know you’ve got a healthy meal in store. Don’t underestimate the power of planning and prep.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

Don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad day and feel like you’re not sticking to your healthy habits. Remember: getting healthier is not a destination, it’s a journey (and one that’s never finished). Small changes you can keep going are better than big, drastic gestures that are too tough to stick to.

Interested in giving Woop a try?