It’s easy to jump into action when you set goals to begin exercising. After all, exercise requires you to be active! But just like any new habit, it takes time to get yourself ready to adopt this kind of change in your life. When you truly want to change and create a new healthier habit, pushing yourself too fast through the process of change can result in feelings of failure when you encounter obstacles.
Like I presented in an earlier blog called Contemplating Change, studies show that change is a process that that looks more like a spiral staircase than a straight and narrow path. In the book Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward, psychologist James Prochaska explains that people move through different stages of change when creating a new habit or getting rid of an old habit…and that they sometimes move back and forth between the stages before finally accomplishing their goals.
One of those important stages is preparation. When it comes to physical activity and following a healthy diet, this stage is crucial. Preparation allows you to mentally and physically prepare yourself for a significant lifestyle changes that will happen. You have to rearrange schedules, plan your meals, avoid triggers, say “No” sometimes, etc. These situations can be tough if we haven’t properly prepared how we will act and react in them. Just like you prepare to go on a vacation by looking at a road map and packing bags (with clothes for all weather occasions), this kind of preparation is also necessary for adopting healthier changes in your life too.
If you want to start becoming more physically active, preparation gives you the chance to sit down and think about what resources you have, how you will fit exercise sessions into your busy schedule, and what you will do if you go out of town or during the holiday season. It gives you the chance to talk with your family about your new goals and ask for their support.
This stage allows you to think about challenges and come up with strategies before they happen, so you aren’t always caught off-guard. When trying to make significant changes in your life, remember to not skip over this important step! It will help you be prepared for all the new things to come!
Like I presented in an earlier blog called Contemplating Change, studies show that change is a process that that looks more like a spiral staircase than a straight and narrow path. In the book Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward, psychologist James Prochaska explains that people move through different stages of change when creating a new habit or getting rid of an old habit…and that they sometimes move back and forth between the stages before finally accomplishing their goals.
One of those important stages is preparation. When it comes to physical activity and following a healthy diet, this stage is crucial. Preparation allows you to mentally and physically prepare yourself for a significant lifestyle changes that will happen. You have to rearrange schedules, plan your meals, avoid triggers, say “No” sometimes, etc. These situations can be tough if we haven’t properly prepared how we will act and react in them. Just like you prepare to go on a vacation by looking at a road map and packing bags (with clothes for all weather occasions), this kind of preparation is also necessary for adopting healthier changes in your life too.
If you want to start becoming more physically active, preparation gives you the chance to sit down and think about what resources you have, how you will fit exercise sessions into your busy schedule, and what you will do if you go out of town or during the holiday season. It gives you the chance to talk with your family about your new goals and ask for their support.
This stage allows you to think about challenges and come up with strategies before they happen, so you aren’t always caught off-guard. When trying to make significant changes in your life, remember to not skip over this important step! It will help you be prepared for all the new things to come!
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