Making lifestyle changes

Most of us know there are things we could do to be healthier or happier, but making lifestyle adjustments can feel overwhelming. Lasting change means dedicating yourself to new habits and routines.

Not sure how to get started? The questions below can help you think through the first steps as you work toward having more good days.

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  2. 1. Identify the habit you want to change

  3. What habit or part of your lifestyle do you want to change?
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  4. What specific change do you want to make?

    You might want to make a common change, such as eating healthier foods, exercising a certain number of days per week, setting a sleep schedule, finding a daily activity for stress management, or something else entirely. This is your journey!

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  5. 2. Understand the impact

  6. What are the negative effects of your current habit? How are they preventing you from living the life you want?
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  7. If you made changes starting now, how would your life get better?
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  8. 3. Reflect on past success

  9. What has worked in the past to help you make and keep changes?

    Think back to other lifestyle shifts or habit changes you've made.

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  10. 4. Take the first step

  11. What is one specific action you can take to start making the changes you identified above?

    Think of something you can do within a defined period (a day, a week, or a month, etc.).

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  12. 5. Hold yourself accountable

  13. Who or what can help you stay accountable to yourself?

    This could be a friend or partner working toward similar goals, an app or wearable device to track your progress, a handwritten checklist, or something else that works for you.

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  14. 6. Plan for how you’ll keep going

  15. How can you break up your overall goal into smaller milestones?
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  16. How will you celebrate and reward yourself for reaching each of these milestones?

    For instance, you might treat yourself to a latte or a new book after you stick to your new sleep/wake routine for a week. Get creative!

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