How to Form New Life-Enhancing Habits

So how do you create habits that really stick? It's not actually that hard to do, but requires energy and commitment. You have to divorce yourself from your current lifestyle to start a new one, and you have to believe in your ability to conquer your weaknesses. Here are a few ways that you can actually stick to your "New Year's Resolutions," creating new life-enhancing habits.

1. Start Small

You can't just go from eating McDonalds every single day to not eating it at all; quitting cold turkey barely ever creates sustainable habits, and requires willpower that no one has. Therefore, introducing small changes into your lifestyle is probably the most effective way to enforce new habits. For example, beginning to eat McDonalds only twice a week instead of every day might be a more viable step. Or, if you want to introduce exercise into your life, you might start with a ten-minute walk each day before building up to a half-hour long jog.

2. Find Effective Products That Work for You

There are tons of products out there that promise healthier skin or hair, weight loss, better digestion, or toned abs. But, of course, not all of these products really work. In order to create actual change in your lifestyle, you have to use products that truly work for you. This means spending some time doing research, taking advantage of products' free trials, and reading online reviews. For example, if you're focused on losing weight and want to try a weight-loss supplement, you could check out LeVel from Thrive. By reading online reviews, you can learn about Thrive Side Effects, convenience, and effectiveness. And if the reviews rave--which for Thrive, they do--maybe it's worth giving the product a shot.

3. Reward Yourself

Rewards are incredibly important when it comes to habit formation; you have to remind yourself that you are accomplishing something every day. Figure out the things you really enjoy, such as reading, watching your favorite reality show, or listening to your favorite podcast. That way, you can celebrate your accomplishments by doing the things you love, which will motivate you to keep up your good work.

4. Do it Every Day

A habit is something that you want to be doing consistently, which means it's important to keep up every single day. If you allow yourself to skip days or take days off--using a "don't feel like it" excuse--you're making it too easy for yourself to give up. For example, if you want to start journaling more, make sure that you're journaling every day--even if it's just for a few minutes. Habits require practice, and not practicing will never make perfect.

5. Make it Easy

When you clear the obstacles that are standing in your way, you're more likely to form new habits. For example, if you're running low on time in the mornings, you probably don't want to schedule your journaling time for the mornings or stress yourself out with healthy breakfast prep. Instead, you should meal-prep the night before when you have more time, and schedule your fifteen minutes of journaling for a time of day that you're not very busy. This way, you're making your new habits easier on yourself, making them more likely to stick.

Implementing new habits is no easy feat, but it is possible. It requires patience and hard work, and you can't give up when things get difficult. Make it easier on yourself with these steps, and find a lifestyle that really works for you. You might not get it perfect the first time, but it's worth it. Your life is very much worth it.