A study found that on average it takes 66 days to make a habit become an automatic part of your routine. Here are some tips to help you change your short-term habit into a long-term one.
Goal setting
When setting your goals, it can be beneficial to make SMART targets to help you maintain them.
Be Specific, do you want to increase the amount of walking or running you do, or do you want to eat more fruits and vegetables?
Make sure your goal is Measurable, track your progress and success.
Make it Attainable, this will help you to achieve your goal.
Keep it Relevant, make sure it helps you reach your longer-term health goals.
Ensure Time-bound, set an end date to achieve your goal.
Track your progress
By tracking your progress, you can monitor your improvements, motivate yourself to go further and stay accountable for your actions. It is also a good way to adjust or change your approach to your goal if needed, helping you to achieve it.
It is easy to track your progress, you can record it in a journal or make a spreadsheet.
Support
Having the support of friends and family can help you to achieve your goals. Having a strong support network will provide you with encouragement and guidance in your journey.
You could try and get them to set their own goals too and do it together.
Sign up to receive our monthly Healthy Tip emails directly to your inbox
Discover ways to look after you heart
In this month’s Healthy Tip, Amie Leckie, Registered Nutritional Therapist and Health & Wellbeing Specialist at Heart Research UK, explores the world of supplements -highlighting which ones may be worth considering and which may simply lead to… an expensive wee!
Our 5 healthy eating tips are simple, back-to-basics stuff that doesn’t require any special supplements or equipment.
Did you know that heart attack rates increase during the festive period? Join us as we delve into some of the benefits of exercise for heart health, offer some ideas to help you build sustainable movement routines and serve up a festive exercise challenge.
We explain how simply adding more plants to your diet can bring big benefits for your heart and overall wellbeing.
Explore our collection of heart healthy recipes
A guilt-free snack for when you’re craving something savoury.
A heart-healthy spin on a classic winter pudding.
A vibrant, heart-healthy spin on traditional mulled wine.