How to Change Habits & Find Time for You

It seems like everyone around me has been talking about how they have had to change habits – whether they wanted to or not – since the pandemic started. Changing habits is incredibly challenging, even when we want to do it. Yet this pandemic has shown that when changes are forced upon us, we manage; and we may even find ourselves liking our new ways of doing things. 

This proves that if you want to change habits in your life for better health, happiness, or whatever – you CAN do it! When we were forced to change because of COVID-19, we couldn’t use all of our normal reasons (aka excuses) why we could not. We just did it. And it wasn’t as difficult as we thought it might be. 

I’m not suggesting you implement pandemic-like restrictions to your life in order to change habits that you don’t like into ones you love. Rather, consider if you can make small adjustments to your life that will make you a priority. 

6 Tips to Change Habits to Make Time for You & Your Health

1. Start Small. Big goals are amazing – but when you go all-or-nothing into something new, you are bound to hit roadblocks and feel frustrated quickly. Rather, ease yourself into that big change! For example, if you haven’t exercised in months, start with three workouts a week. Build on that once it feels like routine, and part of your life. Small successes add up to big changes! 

2. Plan Ahead. It can be hard to change habits when you are winging it. I like to pick a planning day on the weekend, and look at the week ahead. Thanks to work and kids’ activities, each week varies somewhat for me. So I schedule those variable events, then book in when I will do my runs, meet with my Pilates mentors, and the other things that are important to me. 

3. Make Sleep Important. Our bodies need sleep, yet for some reason we try to cram as much into our days as possible. We can get more done when our bodies have rested, than we can while we are exhausted. Try to go to bed at a consistent time each night, and get up at the same time each day. 

4. Assess What You Do Now. Everyone has the same 24 hours a day. Some people accomplish so much in those hours, while others accomplish very little. This can be a result of priorities, but also of mindset. 

While my career was changing from being an employed fitness instructor to a self-employed coach, I struggled with getting my own workouts done (yes – like all of you normal people who don’t work in fitness jobs!). I got into this mindset of having to “fit in” exercise. This made it very difficult and overwhelming! 

Read: Is It Time to Take a New Approach? 

I had started viewing working out as an “add on” to my life, rather than just part of my normal lifestyle. So, I stopped trying to get up early (not me), or working out late (I was too tired) – and looked at how I was spending my time. 

Once I realized that exercise needed to be a part of my daily routine, it was so much easier. I’ve gone back to that, and now I’m happier, eating better, and accomplishing so much more. Changing habits means being aware of what is important to us. 

5. Become Okay with Taking a Break. Just like our bodies need sleep, it needs a day (or a few) off once in a while. If your body or mind is really struggling with the changes you are making, it is okay to take a break. We can then come back fresh, and will do better than if we had simply “pushed through”. 

6. Food Is Your Friend. Food is what fuels our body – so we should feed it whole, healthy food as often as possible. Be mindful of how you feel after you eat – tired? Energized? This is a great way to live most of the time. But what if – GASP! – you went out and had a burger and fries one night? No big deal! Enjoy it fully, and choose a healthier option the next day. One meal is not the end of things. 

Are you seeing the thread here? Start small. Be kind to yourself. Be aware of what you are doing now, and how the changes make you feel. One “mess up” doesn’t mean the end of your progress! Just keep on making small steps, and you will get where you want to go. 

Read: Progress, Not Perfection. 

Remember that where you are today may have been created by years of certain behaviours or habits. So changing those behaviours will take time, too. 

The Surprise Benefits of Changing Your Habits

As you adjust your behaviours, you will likely start attracting new people into your life; people who have positive habits and similar hobbies to your “new” or changed ways. You will gain a new support system, and become surrounded by like-minded people. 

And as you feel healthier, fitter, and happier, you will have a better outlook on life as well. Good things will come, and it will be easier to see them. Yes, bad things will happen, but handling them might feel easier with these new people and your own positive outlook on life. 

Know that you can do it. You don’t have to stay stuck in a place where you don’t feel happy.  Change is always an option, and you are in control. 
If a fitness change is in your future, or you are struggling on your own – I am here to help! Let’s talk about making your health a priority in a way that works for you – from running, to Pilates, to personal training.