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Dr. Mercola
January 24 2008

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18 Secrets to Help You Achieve Your Health Goals

yoga, healthy habits, health goalsIt’s easy to focus on bad habits that you’d like to overcome, but how about this for a change: focusing on habits you’d like to have.

The tips that follow will help you to put your good habits -- like eating healthy, exercising, and taking time to relax -- on autopilot, so you can maintain them with very little effort. Here are a few of my favorites (the link below has the entire list):

1. Commit to 30 Days. If you make it through the first month, the habit will become automatic.

2. Do it Daily. Consistency is key, and the more often you engage in the habit, the better. For instance, if you’re trying to get into the habit of exercise, you should do some form of it every day for the first 30 days.

3. Start Simple. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself. So instead of trying to overhaul your whole diet, commit to first getting through the first page of my nutrition plan.

4. Use “But” Statements. If you start to think something negative about the habit, counter it with a “but” statement. For instance, “I’m no good at exercising,” becomes “I’m no good at exercising, but I’m just starting out and I’ll get better each day.”

5. Form a Trigger. Think of something you can do right before the habit so that it will “trigger” you into autopilot. So, if your habit is to go to bed earlier, washing your face and brushing your teeth can be the ritual you use to trigger your earlier bedtime.

Sources:

  Lifehack.org August 14, 2007


Related Links:

  147 Tips to a Happier and Healthier Life

  13 Tips to Actually Enjoy Exercising

  What I Have Learned About Goal Setting as a Means to Success




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Comment on This Article Community Comments (35)
 
 
Posted On Jan 09, 2008
Tip #19:  Make it fun.

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EQ
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Posted On Jan 10, 2008
Wow.  A negative vote for "make it fun?"  I've got to stop paying attention to the voting.  Maybe EFT can get me to stop looking at that corner.  ;-)

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Posted On Jan 10, 2008
Must be the 'New Year Mad Dinger'.

Don't worry, EQ.  You keep commenting and we will watch your back.

DOWN WITH DINGERS!

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BeyondOrganic
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Posted On Jan 10, 2008
I just thumbed you up EQ.  I've always thought the point business is a bit ridiculous since so many people thumb you down for no legitimate reason. 

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Posted On Jan 07, 2008
The "buddy" does not always have to be human.  A dog can be an excellent companion for a daily walk, or run.  This has some excellent suggestions.

Mary

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Posted On Jan 08, 2008
As far as exercise is concerned , regular , low-key and consistent approach is the key for a beginner .
Thanks for the useful suggestions ..

Jebakumar

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aweugene
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Posted On Jan 24, 2008

Hey! can't we all just get along? we all have a right to our own opinion!!!

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Posted On Jan 24, 2008

I notice you got a negative for tht comment maggie! that's crazy! I gave you a plus!

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Posted On Jan 07, 2008
Realy nice and straight forward suggestions...and they work!

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