Jul 9 • General discussion
Staying Consistent With Healthy Habits (Even When Life Gets Crazy!)
Hey there, wellness warriors! 👋
Let's chat about something we ALL struggle with – keeping up with those healthy habits when life decides to throw us curveballs (which, let's be honest, happens pretty much every week, right?).
You know the drill. You're crushing your morning meditation, drinking your water, moving your body daily... and then BAM! A work deadline appears, your kid gets sick, or life just happens. Suddenly, those carefully cultivated habits start slipping away.
First, I want you to know: this is completely normal. Consistency isn't about perfection – it's about returning to your habits again and again, even after you've stepped away from them.
Why We Fall Off Track (And Why It's Not Your Fault!)
There's actually brain science behind why maintaining habits is so challenging. Our brains are wired to conserve energy and stick with familiar patterns. When stress hits, our brain's executive function (the part responsible for decision-making and willpower) gets depleted faster.
This means when you're tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, your brain literally has less capacity to choose that healthy habit over the easier option.
So if you've been beating yourself up about your "lack of discipline" – please stop! Your brain is just doing what brains do.
My 5 Favorite Strategies for Staying Consistent
After years of my own ups and downs with healthy habits (and working with our amazing community), here are the approaches I've found most helpful:
1. Make it ridiculously small
The number one mistake I see? Setting habits that are too big to maintain during busy times.
Instead of "I'll exercise for 30 minutes daily," try "I'll do 5 minutes of movement daily." When you have more time and energy, you can always do more, but that tiny minimum keeps consistency possible.
Quick tip: What's one healthy habit you're working on? How could you make it smaller and more doable for your busiest days?
2. Stack your habits
Attach your new habit to something you already do without thinking. This is called habit stacking, and it's magical!
For example:
- After I brush my teeth, I'll do 3 deep breaths
- After I pour my morning coffee, I'll write one gratitude
- After I get home, I'll fill up my water bottle
The existing habit becomes your trigger, making the new one much easier to remember.
3. Design your environment
Your surroundings have a HUGE impact on your habits – much bigger than most people realize.
Want to drink more water? Keep filled bottles at eye level in your fridge. Want to meditate daily? Set up a dedicated corner with your cushion always ready. Want to eat more fruit? Keep it washed, cut, and visible on your counter.
When your environment supports your habits, consistency becomes almost effortless.
4. Expect and plan for obstacles
This is a game-changer! Instead of hoping everything will go smoothly (it won't!), proactively plan for the most likely obstacles.
Ask yourself: "What typically gets in the way of this habit? What's my specific plan when that happens?"
For example: "If I don't have time for my full morning routine, my 5-minute minimum version includes just water, three deep breaths, and writing down my top priority for the day."
Having these "if-then" plans ready means you won't have to figure it out in the moment when your willpower is already low.
5. Track your consistency, not your perfection
One of my favorite tools is a simple habit tracker. But here's the twist – I don't aim for perfection. I aim for a percentage.
Can I hit my habits 80% of the time? That's fantastic! It means I can miss one day per week and still be on track. This mindset shift from "perfect streak" to "overall consistency" has been incredibly freeing.
The Secret Most People Miss: Self-Compassion
Here's something crucial: research shows that self-compassion (not self-criticism) leads to greater consistency with healthy habits.
When you inevitably miss a day or even a week, how you talk to yourself matters enormously. Beating yourself up actually makes it HARDER to get back on track.
Instead, try speaking to yourself as you would a good friend: "Hey, it's been a crazy week. That's okay.
What's one small step you can take today to return to your habits?"
Your Turn: Let's Get Practical
I'd love to hear from you in the comments:
- What's one healthy habit you're working on right now?
- What's your biggest obstacle to consistency?
- Which of these strategies might help you the most?
Remember, we're all works in progress here. The goal isn't perfection – it's progress. And I'm cheering you on every step of the way!
Let's keep this conversation going – your insights might be exactly what someone else in our community needs to hear today.
With love and belief in you,
April
P.S. In the next weeks in our community call, we'll be diving deeper into habit building strategies and troubleshooting specific challenges. Bring your questions and we'll work through them together!
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Staying Consistent With Healthy Habits (Even When Life Gets Crazy!)
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