Forming Good Habits – Part 1

​To be able to commit to my healthy eating and exercise regime (original post here) I need to change my habits.  I need to make my food choices a habit.  I need to make doing my exercise a habit.  So I do these things without hesitation.  This paragraph helped me get forming habits into perspective:

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From Gretchen Rubin’s Book ‘Better than Before’

Often when we try repeatedly to form a habit that we desire, we fail because we want to reap its benefits without paying the price it demands.

I think constantly of that stark line from John Gardner, so significant for habits, when he observed:

“Every time you break the law you pay.  Every time you obey the law you pay.”
Keeping a good habit costs us:  it may cost time, energy and money, and it may mean forgoing pleasures and opportunities – but keeping a good habit also has its cost.
So which cost do we want to pay?

What will make our lives happier in the long run? 

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​I know that in the long run I will be happier if I am fit and healthy, if I have more energy, if I sleep better and if my body is toned and lean.

I was put to the test last weekend and I thought of this – keeping a habit costs us … it might mean forgoing pleasures and opportunities.  My husband organised a spontaneous curry out with his brother, his wife and his sister.  I had already organised my ‘on plan’ meal so I decided not to go with them.  Yes I missed out on a social evening but I kept to my plan and I felt better for it.  The next day was Sunday and we were going out for lunch – I knew about this so I had been able to incorporate it into my plan and had already decided what I would have to eat.  It was difficult to explain why I was not coming out for the curry but ultimately the SSS Plan is only 90 days and if I can change my habits in that time then going forward eating out will be a lot easier and I will get want I want in the long run.

Michelle x