4 Quick Tips to Help You Build A New Habit Starting Today

After 15 plus years of working with athletes and their sports nutrition and mindset, I've learned a few things about building new habits and I'm going to share them with YOU - let's dig in! This post is short, so you can spend more time taking action!

It's frustrating to wake up every day and tell yourself TODAY is the day I start doing (enter your new habit or many habits!), only to get into bed, no further along because you forgot, got too tired or didn't plan. You feel Sh*#ty about yourself. I've been there. Don't throw the towel in. Instead, ask yourself these quick questions about the habit you're trying to form.

• Are you asking yourself to make big new changes all at once?

• Are you attempting to start this new habit at the end of the day?

• Are you in a supportive environment for this new habit to flourish?

• Have you set up any reward system for yourself?

With sports nutrition and mindset work, I rarely ask an athlete to add more than 2 new things during our first session. It's hard enough to master one! Give someone 5 and I can almost guarantee it falls apart. Here are some tips to consider if you've been struggling:

• Start with ONE new habit.

• If possible, do it in the first 1/3 of the day when you are not mentally depleted.

• If you can find a buddy to start at the same time. This can create a supportive environment and some accountability. Some people need this more than others (think group exercise classes).

• After 7 days of following through with this new action, how will you reward yourself? Consider rewarding yourself weekly at first. Don't go overboard :)!

Remember, small habits, mastered become part of your life. Once you 'master ONE, then you can add another. Mastering one builds confidence and shows you that YES you can show up for yourself and trust yourself. Once you have accomplished this, ADD ANOTHER. Stack new habits over time and guess what, you're changing into the person you are becoming.

It's better to take your time then to never get started.

Close your eyes and imagine the habit you want to form. Imaging yourself doing it in the first portion of your day if possible or as soon as you can in the day otherwise. Imagine how you will feel tomorrow if you DON'T do it. Now imagine how you will feel if you DO IT. Write down what you plan to do on paper. Prepare anything you may need the night before to reduce the resistance to starting. Go look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself "I WILL SHOW UP FOR MYSELF, NO ONE ELSE CAN DO IT FOR ME."

You've got this. I believe in you. Now you have to believe in you too.

Keep it simple, plan it, visualize it and how you will feel when you complete it.

Everyone starts by taking a step and only you can take this one for yourself.

Keep moving. Good things are coming. Imperfect Progress is the name of the game.

Cheers,

Anne