Building Habits

Habits, good and bad, we all have them. If you think about it we are little more than the sum of our habits and nothing else. Habits are our brains internal productivity drivers, a network of routines and behaviors, developed over time, that we carry out with little or no thought what so ever.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act , it is a habit." Aristotle

Consider your own habits for a minute; making coffee in the morning, checking Facebook, turning on the TV, pouring a glass of wine, brushing your teeth. These are all habits you have created over time, they are done without a lot of mental preparation. You do these things because it has become part of your routine:good or bad.



According to the mayo clinic exercise is vital to living and sustaining a healthy mind and body. It not only helps control weight, combat disease and other health conditions it also improves mood, relieves stress and promotes better sleep habits.

Charles Dickens in his essay "Night Walks" said "the sum of the whole is this: walk and he happy, walk and be healthy."

 So why haven't we all jumped up off the couch and started getting active?

The answer, SIMPLE.  It takes work, becoming healthy and fit doesn't happen fast enough. It is a life long commitment between you, your brain and your body to create a sustainable exercise habit and old habits die hard.

Here are a few tips to get started:

1) Start small and slow
Exercise doesn't have to be extreme. Start with something simple like a daily walk. This will get      

you out the door and moving, opening the door to other fitness goals. Taking the first steps leads to 

the next step.

2) Choose a time and stick with it
Find a time in your day that works best for you to commit to you and your health. Exercising at the
same time every day will become routine (like brushing your teeth) making it easier to stay
consistent.

3) Make your health a priority
People who exercise daily make better choices when it comes to their health. A short walk can
lead to better eating habits and a healthier life style.

4) Stop making excuses
Don't make excuses about not having enough time. There are 168 hours in a week. If you sleep 56
of those hours and work 40 of those hours there are still 72 hours to play with even if you have
to run the kids around.You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it

The biggest key to creating and maintaining an active life is to understand it is a lifelong process. Becoming healthy and fit doesn't happen overnight. Set some goals even if it is just loosing weight, making it a habit. Working towards that goal will not only help you get fit quicker right now, it will ensure you make your health and fitness a priority, FOR LIFE!