The Power of Environment

The environment can have a significant impact on our ability to develop and maintain healthy habits. By making changes to our environment, we can make it easier to adopt and maintain healthy habits.

Here are some ways that environmental changes can help change healthy habits:

1. Make healthy choices the default option: One way to change habits is to make healthy choices the default option. For example, if you keep a bowl of fruit on the counter instead of a bowl of candy, you're more likely to choose the healthier option.

2. Remove unhealthy triggers: Our environment can be full of triggers that lead to unhealthy habits. By removing these triggers, we can make it easier to develop healthy habits. For example, if you tend to snack mindlessly while watching TV, try removing the TV from your bedroom or living room.

3. Create a supportive environment: Surrounding yourself with people who support your healthy habits can make it easier to stick to them. By creating social opportunities around healthy habits, you can tap into this support and make it easier to follow through. This could mean finding a workout buddy, joining a healthy cooking club, hiring a skilled trainer, or participating in a community gardening program.

4. Make healthy options more accessible: If healthy options are more accessible, we're more likely to choose them. This could mean keeping healthy snacks at eye level in the pantry, or making it easier to walk or bike to work instead of driving.

5. Make it fun: If healthy habits are fun and enjoyable, we're more likely to stick with them. This could mean trying new healthy recipes or activities, or turning exercise into a social event by joining a sports team or fitness class.

6. Use visual cues: Visual cues can be an effective way to help you stick to your healthy habits. Seeing visual reminders of your goals can keep you motivated and on track. Some ideas for visual cues include writing down your goals on sticky notes and placing them where you will see them frequently, or creating a vision board with images that represent your health goals. If you're trying to drink more water, try keeping a water bottle on your desk or carrying a reusable water bottle with you throughout the day. Seeing the water bottle can serve as a reminder to stay hydrated and help you develop a habit of drinking more water.

7. Make small changes: Making small changes can be a great way to build momentum towards larger healthy habits. Small changes are often easier to stick with, and can help you build confidence in your ability to make healthy choices. For example, you might start by adding more vegetables to your meals, or taking a short walk after dinner each night.

8. Use technology: There are a variety of apps and devices that can help you develop and maintain healthy habits. Fitness trackers, such as Fitbit or Apple Watch, can help you track your activity level and motivate you to move more throughout the day. Apps such as MyFitnessPal or LoseIt can help you track your food intake and stay on top of your nutrition goals. There are also meditation and mindfulness apps that can help you manage stress and improve your mental health.

9. Be mindful of your surroundings: Being mindful of your surroundings can help you make healthier choices. For example, if you're in a restaurant, taking a few minutes to look at the menu and choose a healthier option can help you avoid making impulsive, unhealthy choices. Similarly, if you're at home, keeping healthy snacks readily available and visible can help you make healthier choices.

10. Plan ahead: Planning ahead can help you make healthier choices, especially when it comes to food. Meal planning can help you make sure you have healthy options available, even when you're short on time. Prepping meals or snacks ahead of time can also make healthy choices more convenient.

11. Make space: t's important to create a space that supports your goals. This could mean setting up a home gym or exercise area, investing in healthy kitchen appliances or cookware, or decluttering your space to reduce stress and promote relaxation. If you have questions about setting up a dedicated exercise space that you will enjoy using, please don't hesitate to reach out.

12. Reward yourself: Finally, don't forget to reward yourself for your hard work and progress. This could mean treating yourself to a massage or spa day after hitting a fitness milestone, or indulging in a healthy treat after sticking to your healthy eating plan for a week. The key is to avoid a cycle of healthy eating all week and treats on the weekend.

By incorporating these strategies, you can create an environment that supports your healthy habits and makes it easier to stick with them. Making small changes and using visual cues can help build momentum towards larger healthy habits, while technology and planning ahead can help you stay on track even when life gets busy. Being mindful of your surroundings can also help you make healthier choices in any situation.