#6 - It's All About The Habit

In today’s episode of Body Kindness we’re diving into habits. We spill the secrets on how to build habits that you’ll love and stick to. Bernie and I also have updates on our Body Kindness goals, and we talk about how to get a wayward habit back on track.

How do you build a habit the Body Kindness way? Here’s an overview of the framework:

• First, think about your values. What are the things you care about?
• Set a goal based on your values. It needs to be about behaviors, not a number like a clothing size or scale reading, because numbers are not in your control
• Commit to taking actions that are in line with your values and goals
• Repeat, repeat, repeat...
• With time and consistency, you’ll form a habit!

Here’s what we talked about...

• Bernie shared an update on his Body Kindness goals. He’s dedicated himself to good hydration. After a few weeks he’s noticed big improvements in his energy and complexion, plus fewer headaches!
• He also took up my Episode 3 suggestion to count the minutes he works out, instead of focusing on workout intensity. He says it’s changed his outlook on exercise and he’s giving himself credit for his current actions rather than comparing it to his past self.
• We broke down the components of how to build a healthy habit. The Body Kindness way starts with accepting you’re human and that it won’t be perfect. Then it’s all about setting a goal, taking action, then repeating those actions - repetition is what allows a habit to form.
• I explained the importance of choosing an achievable goal that feels exciting and/or energising. This sets you up for the right mindset to take action.
• I emphasized the difference between No Pain No Gain habits and Body Kindness habits. Approaching a habit with a tough love, all-or-nothing mindset lacks self-compassion and is a recipe for disaster! The Body Kindness approach is about listening to and respecting your body, being flexible, and trusting your inner wisdom.
• In my own Body Kindness update, I shared that while exercise and good nutrition are now both autopilot habits for me after years of consistent practice, I had a bump in the road with my #YearOfKindess challenge. I told Bernie about my frustrations at missing a week of posts, despite setting a doable challenge that excited me.
• I explained that this is a classic part in the habit building process. When a new action is not yet a habit it takes more effort. The key is to be kind and compassionate, remember why you care about this new habit and get back on the horse RIGHT AWAY. So I took action and posted a new #YearOfKindess update as we were recording!
• This sparked a conversation about the difference between feeling guilt or shame about something we’ve done (or haven’t done!). In a nutshell, guilt = I did a bad thing, whereas shame = I’m a bad person.
• I then summarised how to create habits the Body Kindness way, as outlined above.
• For full show notes please visit bodykindnessbook.com.

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Nothing in this podcast is meant to provide medical diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Individuals should consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical advice and answers to personal health questions.