In my last blog, we talked about letting go of unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to embrace healthier, more effective ways of managing stress. I gave some examples of what that could look like, but maybe your next question is: how do I make those changes? Where do I start? Today we can explore how to go about/start the process of making changes.
Why Is It So Difficult?
Before looking at what we can do, it might be helpful to better understand the barriers in place that have made it difficult to make changes in the past. These might be different for everyone, but common factors that can impact our ability to change patterns include finding safety in familiarity, living by unspoken “rules” that make it difficult to take action (rigid thinking patterns), or seeking instant gratification (which is often not achieved when making changes at first because it takes time to see a significant impact). We are also fundamentally creatures of habit, which makes any changes, deliberate or otherwise, difficult to manage. As always, this is a process that will require time, patience, and consistency. Try to practice being kind to yourself, which can be helpful during transitions.
Habit Stacking Tool
One thing that can be a helpful tool when starting out is habit stacking. Essentially, habit stacking is taking advantage of an already existing habit and “stacking” a new behavior on top of it. This makes it easier to incorporate a new habit by tying it to something you already do reliably and consistently. We used habit stacking in my mindfulness blog, where we discussed “tying” the practice of mindfulness to something like washing your hands, which is something everyone (hopefully!) already does every day. Whether you utilize habit stacking, or another technique, the goal is to try to incorporate the new habit into your routine with as little difficulty as possible, making it more likely that it sticks and creates lasting positive change. So many habits have the potential to make noticeable impacts on our experience of our lives. Building good, healthy habits is a great way to take steps towards making an impact on patterns of coping we’ve been stuck in.
Other Difficulties
Of course, incorporating helpful habits into our routines can be one way of working towards making changes, but creating a habit doesn’t always tackle the other barriers to change that may be present. As mentioned earlier, things like thinking patterns or comfort zones can make it challenging to take steps in the right direction, whatever that is for you. There are so many things in our lives that contribute to good overall health, especially mental health. It can be really helpful to explore previous experiences, beliefs, and emotions that might be contributing to current difficulties. If you have tried to make positive changes in your life before and are having difficulty, now could be a perfect time to seek support from a counselor to guide you through the process and help with checking in and accountability.
Ready to take the next step?
Connect with one of our counselors to start building healthier habits and meaningful change today.
