Don’t let the two-week myth fool you. It takes anywhere from 18 to 254 days to build a habit. It’s not as easy to start from scratch and step into a new routine as some people want you to believe. But, if you’re truly dedicated to starting fresh and fostering healthier habits in your life, it’s possible to foster a routine that not only works for you, but improves your well-being.
Building a healthy routine from scratch should start by focusing on your needs and wants. What are your health goals? Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to drink more water and improve your hydration levels? Improve your cardiovascular health, or reduce your risk of certain illnesses?
Maybe you want to focus on your mental well-being, or simply improve your mood. Maybe you want to spend more time outdoors or develop better connections with friends and family.
Whatever the case, setting goals will give you a clear picture of what you want, and you can build your routines around them. One thing to keep in mind as you start to build these routines, is that hydration can (and should) be at the core of your healthy habits.
Starting Fresh
People want to start anew and give themselves a clean slate for a variety of reasons. The most common, however, is if you’re moving to a new house or location. When you’re at this new stage in life, consider it an opportunity to start new, healthy routines. It’s an opportunity for personal growth and can help you consider what changes you really want to make. New changes can also inspire and motivate you, so it’s the perfect time to jump into new habits and see what sticks.
Healthy habits can be very personal, but a few self-care items that can be easy to insert into a daily routine include:
