Happy New Year… 2023 is slowly rolling itself in and it’s that time of year again where our socials are bombarded with ‘New year, new you!’ headlines, diets, goals and plans.
In the new year we should be supporting ourselves to slowly step into a new year and take our time to support where we are right now.
We have just stepped through one of the busiest months in our calendar and celebrated the festive season and then expected to flip life on its head, get healthy, move more, stop drinking, quit smoking and all the other resolutions you just gave yourself.
We all know that within a few days of this ‘new me’ energy something will trigger the old pattern of behaviour and all of a sudden a take away looks like a great idea and a bad day of work is now an excuse for a glass of wine.
Habits don’t change themselves overnight.
Our ability to change something also depends on how much stress we are under. If we lead a relaxed and predominately stress free lifestyle we are more resilient and able to change those habits quite easily.
Whereas if we’re feeling quite stressed and putting additional pressure on ourselves to reach a certain goal then we are more likely to fail and not achieve it.
You see, our brain is wired for threat and change, if we have formed a negative habit, once we try and change it, our brain sends an alert that tells us not too. ‘This is different’ and so stays where it is.
The trick is to change one small thing at a time. Particularly if you know your stressed and struggle to adapt to new things.
Write a list of everything you would like to improve on over this year. Put everything down no matter how silly it may be. Then find the one that you know right now you can change.
You may start with eating a healthy breakfast. Just one healthy meal at a time. You could start taking regular walks and then build up to running or going to the gym. Meditating for 2 minutes and building it up weekly. Drop one glass of wine and then decrease it. Reduce caffeine one cup a week.
Making those small changes will support your brain to adapt more easily but it also takes away the pressure. A goal is a goal if it’s important you will always reach it.
If you are struggling with your mental health, support and habit change then book an initial consultation. Available face to face and online.