By Sara Regester RN, BSN, NBC-HWC, Stress Mastery Expert at Directions 4 Wellness, LLC

Humans are wired for change mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually. Our skin cells, blood cells, and physical bodies change over time. We evolve our talents and skills every time we rewire our careers. Our approach to personal growth over a lifetime includes many changes that we navigate. Whether we choose to make a change or life thrusts one upon us, we will each navigate many changes during our lives.

We are programmed to evolve old patterns and habits into new, more productive ones.

First, we think about the change. We roll it around in our imagination… “What if” scenarios may paint a picture. What would be possible if I did (fill in the blank)?

Moving from Contemplation to Readiness

You are contemplating making a change. You think about it. It floats into your thoughts a few times before you truly notice that this change is important to you. You may even start talking about it with key friends and family. Eventually, you recognize that you are ready to learn more or consider options for a plan. You are still not taking action at this stage.

Create a Vision for Transformation

Your internal motivation increases as you explore your vision and understand why the change is important. The key is to connect with your personal values not why someone else thinks it’s a good idea, not to follow a trend, and not because you feel you “should,” but to honestly evaluate: What’s in it for me?

Ask yourself, “If I don’t make any change, what will my life look like in 3–5 years?”
Then ask, “If I do make this change, what is the best version of my life I can imagine in 3–5 years?”

Assuming Self-Authority and Taking Responsibility

We won’t change anything in our life our health, our stress, or our sustainability habits until we take one key step: assuming self-authority and taking responsibility for the change we desire. We must commit to the steps that help us overcome hurdles and push through barriers so we can execute consistent action and rewire a new habit.

We must also be aware of the traps that stop us in our tracks: doubt, blame, resistance, and the pull of our hard-wired comfort zone. External barriers such as work commitments, family, weather, and time constraints must also be considered.

Formula to Rewire a New Habit into a Productive Pattern

• Take small steps that are doable and repeatable. Keep your plan realistic with time and commitments. No step is too small.

• Build on your success and add more steps over time. If a plan is too big, you’ll stall. If it’s too simple, you may not start. Find the sweet spot between challenge and inspiration.

• Have a conversation with your partner, kids, or a co-worker who can hold you accountable. You can also hold yourself accountable with an app, planner, or smartwatch.

• When barriers arise, identify them and get back in the saddle. Family, work, travel, or weather may sabotage your plan.

• Create a “bump plan” to work around barriers when they come up. Include these barriers in your planning so you can keep moving forward with an internal “Yes! I’m doing it!”

• Track your progress visually to support consistency in sticking with your plan.

Neurologically, it takes 30–66 days to rewire a new habit. Celebrate your success when you hit your target. Three months is a solid timeframe to integrate a productive pattern or lifestyle change as a new habit.

When you take consistent steps with a new pattern, you’ll see how, like dominoes, other changes ripple outward. You can’t change your diet without becoming more mindful of what you eat. You can’t increase movement without prioritizing sleep and recovery. You can’t start a composting plan without modifying your space and disposal routines.

What change are you ready to take self-authority and responsibility for?

For more, visit www.Directions4Wellnesss.com