Creating Healthy Habits

 

Habits play an important role in multiple aspects of our lives: mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health, productivity, relationships, and self-esteem. It's worth noting that there are times in our lives when we may need to build new habits, more helpful habits, and change habits that no longer align with our needs. We are never too old to create new habits and that's great news for those of us with aging, changing bodies.

I want to make a distinction between habits and routines. According to healthine.com habits differ from routines because habits typically involve little to no conscious thought, while routines typically require some intention and discipline.

With that said, if we do it right, our habits can flawlessly become part of our daily routine. And when that happens, life becomes better.

It is helpful to know that there are multiple habit focus areas. A few are:

Preventive habits like taking a vitamin each day or brushing your teeth each day.

Eating habits like filling half your plate with vegetables and fruit or opting for whole grains instead of refined grains.

Thought habits like finding humor in challenging situations or engaging in positive self-talk.

Social and communication habits like actively listening and empathizing when others talk or repeating someone's name out loud when you meet them, so you remember it.

Productivity habits like making a to do list or eliminating distractions while working.

Spiritual habits like praying daily or naming things you are grateful for in your life.

How important is it to create positive habits? Here are a few quotes that I liked about this topic:

"Positive habits don't just boost your self-esteem...they can also reduce stress and anxiety by offering a degree of structure and predictability to your everyday life" -Elizabeth Barlow, Clinical Social Worker

"Creating a new habit can be a source of pride because you realize you have the power to improve your life, which can bring you closer to being who you want to be." - Stephani Jahn, Mental Health Counselor

I like the emotional and mental benefits of good habits in these quotes, but the quote at the top of the page had the most impact on me because I know that if I don't work on creating good habits now it will affect my quality of life in the future.

"People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures." -F.M. Alexander

Along with the quotes there are a few scriptures that I found that let me know that what I do or eat also has a spiritual component:

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

"And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God." Ecclesiasts 3:13

Bringing God into my food choices has always been a part of my life as far as what to limit, but the thought that I honor God by healthy eating was a nice boost in my desire to heal. 

With my future on the line and a desire to honor God in my choices, I really started to dedicate more time to researching the changes I've needed to make now and putting them into action. I've been lucky that my husband, Jim, is on board with these changes and is implementing them into his life too. It's always nice to have a partner to keep you on track.

I've been trying to work on building positive habits in each focus area, but the habits I've been focusing on the most are healthy living and spirituality. I find when I focus on these areas of my life everything else seems to fall into place. It has required some research on my part to figure out what my body needs right now for optimal healing. Finding the balance between exercise and my diet is a constant work in progress. I've had to be flexible and be willing to test my theories multiple times to keep up with the changes in my body. 

Changes to my diet consisted of finding the correct mixture of foods to eat and when to eat them. My spiritual life plays a part in my diet too. I don't drink alcohol or smoke. I don't do drugs or drink coffee either. This has given me a head start in my diet changes since these are some of the first things that almost every healthcare worker, book or website says need to go. I choose not to drink soft drinks because of the sugars and caffeine which are not great when trying to fight inflammation. I limit the amount of gluten I eat, and even the meats I eat since there are some connections to gut health for me and for Jim. 

My research led me to create a specialized smoothie recipe that we drink in the morning that helps with inflammation, gut health, and even cognitive improvement. It has been a work in progress, but I think we are getting it dialed in. Taste is a big deal for us, if it tastes bad, we are less likely to drink it. We have found a combination that works for us, and it's become a habit, a part of our daily life, and we are starting to see some progress. This along with making healthy food choices and portion control are making a difference. 

I've posted before about my exercise needs. Low impact is the key for me. Walking, yoga, stretching, and creating the habit of taking time to meditate or focus my thoughts and breathing have all been helpful.

I would add daily prayer to my exercise list. Our spiritual lives are like muscles they strengthen with use. Ernest, honest prayers are a great way to exercise our spiritual muscles. I was taught that a person's soul is the combining of their body and spirit and a gift from God. When either the body or the spirit are lacking it effects the other, so it is in our best interest to strengthen both. Creating habits of good physical and spiritual exercise not only honor God, but also brings blessings we need for a better future.

The journey of learning to listen to my body and make adjustments as needed has been fascinating. There have been challenges along the way, like prioritizing the budget for eating a healthier diet. The sticker shock on some of the foods can be overwhelming, so learning to make our own to alleviate the burden became necessary. I have actually enjoyed learning these skills. 

Also, being okay with purchasing the right shoes and clothing to make exercising, especially in the Oregon rain, more comfortable is important. If I'm not comfortable I'm less likely to follow through.

I've learned to cultivate patience and self-compassion during this process, building new habits takes some time. I've learned that having a strong relationship with a powerful God that can help me overcome temptations is a bonus when trying to break old habits and create new ones. And having someone to go through the process with you is the best.

I am so grateful for these lessons. 

This journey has also allowed me to put to the test the rules of making new habits: 

Make it realistic - Make it as convenient as possible - Practice the habit everyday (at the same time every day is a bonus) - Cheer yourself on - Use the buddy system. 

The good news is this works! The process of harnessing the power of good habits is attainable. It is totally worth going through the growth and challenges in order to provide a better future.  I decide the habits I want to cultivate, and those habits lead me to a better future. It's an empowering process and I'm enjoying it. Good Habits = Good Life!