Have you ever taken a moment to think about all the little habits we do in our lives everyday? 

 

You likely have some great, healthy habits like brushing your teeth every morning or kissing your kids goodbye before school or having a glass of water with your coffee. 

 

You also likely have some unwanted habits like checking your instagram first thing or eating cookies every afternoon with your tea or watching tv instead of reading a book. 

 

The reality is, we all have our routines! But what if we decided to freshen up these routines to better support the life and health we desire?

 

The first step is awareness. I encourage you to take one day and write down every habit you do...and I mean EVERY habit - good or bad.

 

Now that you are more aware, what habit or routine would you like to change?

 

If you are wanting to add a good habit to your life, I highly recommend habit stacking. This is basically inserting the new habit you want to create on top of a habit you already do each day. For example, if you would like to add 5 minutes of mindfulness to your day, you might do this while waiting for your coffee to percolate in the morning. The idea is that you make it easier to start because you’ve ‘stacked’ it into your daily life already. 

 

Another key to successful habit change is setting realistic goals. Don’t start with 20 minutes of mindfulness, start with 5 minutes or even 1 minute! As you become successful, you will start to gain more motivation and this may lead to longer sessions in the future. But you must allow yourself to feel successful FIRST by setting the bar low to start. 

 

If you are wanting to break a bad habit, the key is making the habit very difficult. If you want to avoid looking at your phone right when you wake up, leave the phone out of your bedroom. If you don’t want to eat the cookies everyday, don’t have them in the house. If you don’t want to watch tv every night, keep the remote out of site (and the book easy to find). 

 

Don't underestimate the power of habits! Our habits create our reality!

 

One area I’ve seen a lot of positive growth with my clients is freshening up their morning routine. Mornings are important because they set the tone for the entire day. Mindfulness, intention and gentle movement in the morning can make a big difference. 

 

FRESH TIP: instead of scrolling on your phone first thing, try incorporating 2 minutes of mindful breathing, 2 minutes of setting your intention for the day (review schedule and must-do’s)  and 3 of your favorite yoga poses. This can be done in 10 minutes!! And the benefits can be a game changer.