Well, happy belated new year! But if looking at the lunar new year, we’re a little early yeah! And what I like about the lunar calendar is it adds another layer for thinking about renewal: it’s the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The longer nights are getting shorter, giving way to more and more light. This is a great annual illustration of moving from death to life. Every year, regardless of solar or lunar, we have a structured reminder to prioritize ongoing positive changes, perpetuate learning, and greater wholeness.
In this post, I’m happy to share Sara Bailey’s thoughts on making life-giving changes when opportunities present themselves. I hope you’ll be encouraged to start new habits or maintain momentum you’ve achieved.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Utilizing Life Transitions as an Opportunity to Change Habits
by Sara Bailey
Being in the middle of a life transition is a great opportunity for personal growth. Studies show that a new habit will stick if you do it every day for 66 days. Consider what changes you’d like to make, whether it’s following a healthier diet or being more eco-friendly, and begin practicing new habits for 66 days as you adjust to your new life transition.
To get started, follow the below tips, and reach out to Family Connections Coaching for personalized guidance on reaching your goals!
Making Habits Stick
Habits are hard to break because they become ingrained at the neural level, so they have a powerful influence on behavior. For example, drugs “tap into the brain’s communication system and tamper with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information.” While some drugs (nicotine, cocaine, alcohol) overstimulate the reward circuit of the brain, others (heroin, marijuana) imitate the brain’s natural chemical messengers.
Breaking a habit successfully requires a strong motivator. Essentially, you aren’t going to change unless you really want to. Think of a replacement behavior for your bad habit, like replacing soda with seltzer water, but ensure the swap is a positive one. Smokers often replace smoking with snacking, but then trade smoking issues with weight issues. Just as you can break a bad habit, you can start a new habit, such as eating healthier or making more eco-friendly decisions.
Going Green
If you are moving to a new house and wish to be more eco-friendly, take advantage of your move. Set up your new house to be green and start a recycling regimen. Newlyweds can start their new life together by promising to make eco-friendly choices as a team. As you settle into sharing a new life together or into a new home, you can learn eco-friendly practices over the first few months and create new habits.
Use less energy by adjusting your thermostat, installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, and unplugging appliances when they’re not in use. Use less water by taking shorter showers, installing a low-flow showerhead, and choosing garden plants that need minimal watering. Cut back on meat consumption, which has high environmental costs, and make your own cleaning products. Shop for gently used items over brand new items. Properly dispose of electronics and batteries, and always recycle.
Eating Healthy
If you find out that you’re expecting a baby, use this time to clean up your eating. Pregnancy lasts longer than 66 days, so it’s a great opportunity to make a new habit stick. You need to eat healthier for the baby anyway, and if you make the habit stick, you’ll continue this healthy habit even after your baby arrives. If you start a new job, your routine will change, so it’s a good time to improve your eating habits by packing healthy snacks and lunches.
Start by including more vegetables at each meal and snack. Meat and carbs have a place on your plate, but vegetables have a bigger place. Aim to have half of your plate covered in vegetables. This helps you get the right amount of veggies per day, and cuts way back on calories. Make simple swaps too, like using a lettuce wrap in place of bread or carrot sticks in place of crackers.
Be wary of liquid carbs like coffee, soda, tea, juice, and milk. Stick with water (even naturally flavored sparkling water is a good option!), black coffee, and unsweetened tea. Although you may be careful at meals, snacks are often weak points in most diets, so keep smart choices (whole fruit, nuts, yogurts) ready to go in your fridge or pantry. Having a healthy snack in between meals also prevents you from overeating at lunch and dinner.
Becoming Your Own Boss
After going through a major change in your life, you might be inspired to start shaking things up in other areas of your life, too. If you’re feeling ambitious, you may be motivated to take your career in a new direction by starting a side hustle to bring in some extra income. And if you’re interested in becoming your own boss, you could even launch a business!
Starting your own business is exciting - but you’ve got to make sure that you take the right approach. For instance, in order to qualify for tax breaks and limited liability, you should establish your company as an LLC California. You’ll need to research the guidelines that your state has laid out, and once you’ve collected your paperwork, you can file through an online formation service.
During the period of transition and habit changes, you might feel a little lost or feel like giving up. In these moments, remember why you are making the changes. If you’re starting a new business, think of the positives about the change. If you’re losing weight, think of how much better you’ll feel.