Break a bad habit this Easter break

Step into Life is challenging you to break a habit this Easter break with their ‘Easter Break – A Bad Habit Challenge’.

Easter is a big break in the middle of the working year, where many use it to relax and spend time with family and friends. Others use Easter as an opportunity to renew commitment and make new goals.

Whether your goal for the ‘Easter Break – A Bad Habit Challenge’ is to quit smoking, stop eating chocolate or stay true to your fitness routine, Step into Life recommends using that time to break a bad habit.

Step into Life offers some handy tips to help you stay committed to your challenge:

1. Don’t try to change everything at once
Change is a gradual process. It’s easy to become over-confident and decide to stop eating chicken wings, go running and quit smoking all at once. However, it is also important you don’t try to end all your ill habits at once or you might not succeed at breaking any. Make a priority list, which can include what is costing you the most in terms of health, money and time. Instead of breaking them all at once, aim to break one at a time.

2. Publicise
It is always better to have someone involved with your habit breaking challenge. They can help and support you on your routines, especially whenever you feel like caving in. Tell a friend about your resolution, train with an exercise buddy and keep each other on track.

3. Take baby steps
Go one step at a time with your goal. Don’t just aim to end it forever. Even though you aim to never bite your nails again, or never indulge in shopping too much, or continue exercising three times a week, your subconscious doesn’t want to hear all that at once. Divide your challenge into doable small portions, such as “I will shop within my budget limit today” or “I will not drink alcohol tonight”.

4. Be gentle with yourself
Be gentle on yourself if you cave in. It is good not to for yourself harshly. There is a high probability you will give in sooner or later and you won’t always be able to stop yourself. It is okay if you missed your run one morning, it doesn’t mean you will miss the next day as well. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.

5. Know your motives
There have been mothers who have lost weight to play with their children and fathers who reduced their working hours to spend time with their family.

Find your motivation; it could be anything from health, looks, time or money. Make sure you have your goal in front of you every time. Whether this is sticking reminders on the refrigerator or scheduling reminders on the smart phone – do whatever it takes to remind yourself why you are breaking the bad habit in the first place.

Use this Easter gap time to take up the ‘Easter Break – A Bad Habit Challenge’.

For more health and wellbeing advice from Step into Life health franchises, visit their website or send them an e-mail.