Simple steps to build healthy habits

Habits are the foundation of our lifestyle. We all want to develop healthy habits such as drinking at least 2 liters of water a day and have dinner three hours before going to bed. Unfortunately, not everyone can easily do it.

More than a dozen books and scientific dissertations were written on this issue. The fact remains that bad habits are rampant in our lives and it is very difficult to promote good ones. Such a process can possibly take a while.

The researchers found that a person needs 66 days to develop a new habit. We have to keep in mind that it's a rather non-specific number. If to consider collected data from different people who took part in the study, it varies from 18 to 254 days. Thus, the amount of time needed to form a habit is very individual.

Here are 4 tips that will help to make any habit a part of your day-to-day life:

• Make sure that the environment around reminds you of what is important to do all the time. Let's continue with the same example involving water. Place bottles and jugs filled with water everywhere possible – at home, at work, in the car. It won't take long until you notice how much easier it has become to drink enough liquid.
• Plan in advance. Don't rely on a spontaneous decisions. It is very likely to play a dirty trick on you. As an example remember times eating anything that comes across in the evening. That can be easily avoided if you plan your meals for the upcoming day in advance.
• Make your own system of rewards and punishments for doing or not doing certain things. For example, if you worked out in the morning, you can reward youself in return. If you didn't, do something you least want to as a punishment.
• No need to rush anything. Increase your habit in very small ways. Start with two glasses of water: one in the morning and one in the evening. Gradually adding the amount, you will come to the results you wanted. Once just one habit becomes a natural part of your life, it will be much easier to promote other habits.

The most important advice will be to always stay positive. Include enjoyable things into your routine and they will definitely stick around. Remember that everybody is different. Something that one could do in a week, can take twice as long for the other. Patience is everything. Keep plugging away and the results will come.