If you find yourself repeatedly struggling to maintain long-term habits, it can be helpful to evaluate patterns and work towards breaking ineffective cycles. Earlier in the MyCare Journey, we learned about the SMART Goals framework and the Tiny Habits methodology. If you’re struggling to maintain long-term healthy habits, revisiting these two tools can be a helpful place to start.
The SMART Goals framework can help you set attainable and specific goals that are relevant to your current circumstances, while avoiding overly ambitious objectives that may contribute to repeated setbacks.
The Tiny Habits method can help you maintain long-term habits through its A-B-C framework. The following is a recap of the Tiny Habit A-B-Cs:
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A is choosing an "anchor" which is something specific in your life that will remind you to complete the behavior you've identified. For example, you might complete the behavior after you brush your teeth every morning.
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B is the "behavior" you want to complete. It should be very tiny. For example, "I will complete arm stretches for 30 seconds".
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C is the "celebration" after you complete the behavior. For example, you might look in the mirror and say, "Way to go!" after completing your behavior.
Tracking your progress through a journal, app, or other means, can also help by keeping a record of your efforts and allowing you to visualize your journey.
If you’re struggling to maintain long-term healthy habits, consider utilizing the SMART Goals and Tiny Habits frameworks to help you achieve attainable and relevant goals while creating new long-term habits.