To Make a Change, First Make a Plan

What can you do to give yourself the best shot at success in changing your unhealthy habit? A survey of psychologists, life coaches and health educators produced the following suggestions:

· Develop a real vision of what your new lifestyle will look like in a year.

· Create a strategy for getting from here to there.

· Decide what help you need to get there. Create your own personal support group. Identify some key players who can help you stay on track. The most motivating change agents should be close to you -- in your family, workplace and community -- and readily accessible.

· Beware of people or programs that promise amazing results -- at considerable costs. Do your research before committing to any program or life coach.

· Create some successes quickly that give you confidence that you are not wasting your time. Build rewards into the process, not punishments. Create opportunities to feel good about your efforts.

· Set up a plan for coping with triggers that lead to behaviors you don't want. Likewise, develop a plan before you slip for how to manage slips when they do occur. (They will!)

· Realize it's not an all-or-nothing effort. The great majority of people fail the first time they try something. It can take six, seven, eight or more tries to succeed. Whether you want to quit smoking, lose weight or exercise more, the message from the experts is: Keep trying.

-- Anita Huslin