Breaking Bad (Habits)
We at Pearls For Life; Family Yoga know how easy it is to fall into ruts and even harder to climb out. They (whoever “they” is) say that something becomes a habit after doing it 21 times consecutively. Habits are formed by practice, which doesn’t seem difficult until you realize that breaking other habits makes the process so hard. It’s so simple and takes very little effort to form bad habits, but to redirect the process, going against the flow of downward momentum, is very challenging.
Breaking bad habits with our kids is doubly difficult as the habit is now not only theirs, but ours. These seemingly harmless habits are often formed to give us a break: turning on the TV to distract the kids so we can get things done, turning on the TV at night to help the kids (and us) fall asleep faster, stopping for fast food to save time, munching on fattening snacks because nothing healthy is available, quickly.
These all seem harmless, but truly, they are careless. Why? Because they perpetuate bad behavior and unhealthy living.
Are you frustrated with your weight gain?
Do you wish your kids would spend more time doing productive things?
Do you wish your kids could just fall asleep without having to have a TV in front of them?
If you answered “YES!” to any of these things, then it’s time to stop, examine why you’ve started these habits and what are the practical steps to changing the direction and forming new habits. Yes, it takes effort. No it’s not easy. But, YES, the results are worth it.
Want to eat healthier ? Plan ahead. I try to stock my fridge with healthy options that are ready to eat: cut up veggies, hummus, fruit, yogurt, cheese sticks, Naked juice or smoothies. Then the cupboards are full of nuts, healthy grains, dried fruit. If I know that I’m going to be busy the whole week, I spend a couple hours on the weekend preparing big portions or tuna salad, soups, shredded chicken; I want the healthy options to be the easiest.
Instead of setting the kids down with the TV to babysit them, give them crayons, paper, Legos – anything that causes them to use their hands and minds. For very young kids, put a sheet over the TV and tell them it’s sleeping and doesn’t wake up until the afternoon or after naptime.
When it comes to healthy habits for the kids, do the changing with them. Instead of spending the morning in front of the TV, get outside and go for a walk or go to the park. Who cares about your hair and makeup! Get out and move.
Make our Pearls For Life family yoga classes part of your routine. Get some parents together and make it part of your week. Get out the door, stretch and relax to yoga and then enjoy a picnic at the park. The kids will be worn out and will nap better and you’ll feel better about yourself and the habits you’re implementing into your kids’ lives.
All these things take effort, but the effort is always worth it in the end. Instill in kids, while they’re young and impressionable, to make healthy choices that increase their quality of life and strengthen family bonds.
photo: http://www.trojansnews.com/2014/05/breaking-bad-habits/
