University of Illinois Extension
Success is found in your daily routine
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[September 10, 2020]
Although we know developing healthy routines and daily habits are
beneficial, their true worth is often overlooked. However, these
incredibly important aspects of daily life have significant
influence on our long-term quality of life. With Americans living
longer, it is more important than ever we strive to live a healthy
lifestyle to truly enjoy our golden years.
How do we live better? We live better by adopting healthy daily
habits, which then become routines helping to prevent and manage
lifestyle diseases. Lifestyle diseases are any disease associated
with the way a person or group of people live. Obesity, type 2
diabetes, heart disease and diseases associated with inactivity,
smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse are all examples of lifestyle
diseases. They result from a combination of factors such as our
genetics and physiology as well as our environment and personal
behaviors.
We should all strive to live a healthy lifestyle, no matter our age.
A healthy lifestyle includes consistently consuming nutritious
foods, engaging in regular physical activity, effectively managing
stress, and getting adequate sleep.
Our lifestyle consists of many daily routines and habits.
Establishing and maintaining healthy routines and habits, may sound
like they are the same. However, they are two different behaviors.
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A routine is a repeated behavior involving a brief time commitment, requiring
little conscious thought. A habit much like a routine, requires little conscious
thought, however it requires a cue. And after a prolonged absence of the cue,
the habit may gradually no longer exist. Whereas a routine is not dependent on a
cue.
A study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, reported it took
on average 66 days before habits became automatic for participants. However,
more complex combinations of behaviors, such as physical activity behaviors took
1.5 times longer to become automatic compared to eating or drinking. Therefore,
when adding new health behaviors (habits) to your daily routine it is important
to understand it will take time and persistence to make them part of your
overall lifestyle.
Tracking your habits is a great way to develop healthy routines. Tracking
motivates you to act by providing a visual cue about your accomplishments. And
it allows you to see your progress on the days you need reassurance. Tracking
also holds you accountable. Knowing you will need to track your activity for the
day will help you to stay consistent, while providing a great sense of
accomplishment when completed. Tracking will also allow you to gain
self-awareness to help you live your best life.
[Source: Diane Reinhold, MPH, MS, RDN
References: Arlinghaus, K. and Johnston, C.
Lally, P., Jaarsveld, C., Potts, H. and Wardle, J. |