Creating healthy habits for improved well-being is an important part of living a healthier, happier life. Healthy habits such as regular exercise, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough rest can help you feel more energized, look better, and function better in all aspects of your life. However, creating new habits can be difficult at first. Here are four integral steps to take when forming healthy habits that can help you stay on track and progress toward improved well-being.

Start Small

When forming a new habit or lifestyle change, starting small is essential so as not to overwhelm yourself. For example, if you want to begin exercising more often instead of trying to run 5km every day, start with a 15-20 minute walk around your neighborhood instead. It’s much easier to commit to a small goal you can build on over time than try to accomplish something difficult right away. It's also important to be realistic about what you can achieve; for instance, if you're entirely new to exercise, it's best to start off light and build up gradually.

Set Achievable Goals

Creating goals for yourself is an important part of forming healthy habits, but be sure to ensure those goals are realistic. Setting too high of expectations can be detrimental because if you don’t reach them, it can discourage you from continuing the habit altogether. So, when creating goals for yourself, make sure they are reasonable and achievable so as not to become overwhelmed or intimidated by not being able to achieve all of them in one go.

Get Professional Guidance

Getting professional guidance can be incredibly beneficial when trying to form healthy habits, as a nutrition coach or health professional will provide the necessary support and advice you need. For example, a nutrition coach can create tailored meal plans, offer advice on exercise routines, and provide general lifestyle tips to ensure you stay on track with your goals. So, finding a nutrition coach is simple, you can start by looking for one in your area through online resources such as Yelp or Google Maps or by finding a health professional specializing in nutrition, like me!

Monitor Your Progress

Monitoring your progress is essential in ensuring you stay on track with whatever new habit you’re trying to form. Whether it’s tracking what kind of food you’re eating or how often you’re exercising, it’s important to hold yourself accountable for the progress you make and for any setbacks along the way. Keeping a journal can be a great way to track your progress and have something tangible to look back on to stay motivated.

Creating healthy habits is no easy feat, but following these simple steps can help make the process easier and ensure that you’re making progress toward improved well-being. Start small, set achievable goals, get professional guidance, and monitor your progress to ensure that you stay on track with whatever new habit or lifestyle change you choose. With hard work and dedication, anything is possible, and with the right mindset, you can make real progress toward improved well-being.