Nutrition, Diet and Health Tips

Why is behaviour change soo hard?

Ever wondered why it’s soo hard for you to stick to your weekly, Monthly or even yearly resolutions/goals/plans?

The simple reason is because change is work and the brain & the body doesn’t like it so much..

In this article, I am going to break down some of my personal reasons and experiences to help you break out of that cocoon of procastination and unfollowed goals that hinder change in your life.

✅ The first thing you must do is be willing to break free from your Comfort Zone. That place, environment or situation that you are most farmiliar with and feel the safest? Yes that one. You must break free from it if you are to attain any new heights or achievements.

Remember that our brains are wired to seek comfort and preserve energy. This makes change an uphill battle but the good thing is that we can actually train our brains otherwise by continuously engaging in those activities that would bring change.

It’ll get hard as you start because it’s not habitual yet and every so often you’ll find yourself going back to your ‘normal’ routine. Don’t be too hard on yourself for slipping just be intentional about making the change part of your habits.  Have it written down in your planner, have a reminder on your phone or even task a friend or a relative to remind you just incase you forget.

✅ Define your Triggers – this are things or environments that prompt emotional or physical reaction. For instance if you’re trying to break away from Procastination, your trigger might be Fear of Unknown, which is quite common than we think.

Some of our triggers we are aware about them and others are subconscious and they both play a significant role in shaping our actions. If you clearly understand them, you can be able to control your emotions and reactions and even replace the bad habits.

✅ Tap into Social Support – Those that surround you. ‘Show me your friends, I tell you your character ‘.

As humans, we are greatly influenced by those we associate with. The fear of being judged or not fitting in, can make us withhold plans or actions that can bring about positive changes in our lives. When I started content creation, the backlash I got from friends and loved ones was overwhelming. I was very close to quiting because of the doubts they planted in me. But I kept pushing cause I had real life examples of people who I’ve seen thrive in the content creation world and that is why I keep going.

Remember that, not everyone in your circle will reasonate with changes you want to make. For instance, if you’re trying to break away from alcohol, partying or even smoking, be ready and willing to loose your ‘buddies’. Be also willing to create new friends and associates that share common goals with you. It’s very important to build a community of like minded people.

✅ Understand the Habit Loop – Cue, routine & Reward – Habits become soo hard to break if we don’t understand this loop.

We all have a reason as to why we do what we do on a daily routine. For instance, most people drink alcohol because it helps them loosen up, some claim it’s a stress reliever and others do it because it improves their confidence. All this reasons are true and false depending on how you’re looking into it.

You can have a reason like increased productivity, better liver health, better social life and even improved savings and better financial management as some of the rewards you’ll get from breaking free from alcohol addiction. Understand the habit Loop and replace the bad actions with positive ones and still hold on to the reward system.

https://youtu.be/ujFD_Sn3Ark Show some love to my YouTube channel 😊

✅ Shy away from instant gratification. What I call short term rewards. Like getting high you give up the long-term rewards like Better health and improved finances.

In the social media era that we are living in, it’s easy to get trapped to the Idea of living for now and only now. It’s very important to live every day to the fullest but only a Fool doesn’t plan for tomorrow. The desires for immediate satisfaction can mess up your long-term plans.

✅ Have a plan for relapse. As I’ve said, breaking habits is not the easiest thing to do and having a plan B just incase A fails is a smart thing to do.  Don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip, instead use the setbacks as a learning experience and use them to come back stronger. You got this 💯

In conclusion, remember that progress takes time and most of us don’t fail to change because of lack of knowledge. With that said, you need to make sure that you have a plan of action to make your desired change a habit and only then will you achieve change.

It’s possible, it’s doable it just needs commitment and a little extra effort.

We’ll be fine, if we keep pushing. If we keep pushing in the right direction, we’ll be great.

Signed with love 💗

Lilian Mumina
Registered Dietitian
Mumina Wellness Solutions.