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Week One: Behavior Change Project Introduction
Last week on Get Fit Friday, I asked about your 2012 New Year’s Resolutions. How are they going so far? Although January 1st and those first few weeks of the new year can be a great motivator for new beginnings, it certainly doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. This Friday, as promised, is the introduction to your behavior change project.
First, find your Readiness to Change Stage (chart/image above) concerning the desired behavior you would like to change. Not sure? Descriptions:
- Pre-contemplation: Unaware, Unwilling, Uninterested or simply: behavior change isn’t on your radar
- Contemplation: Considering changing, but it’s just a general thought or hope
- Preparation: Making plans and necessary arrangements to make the change happen
- Action: Physical difference in behavior, Experimenting, and actually DOING the work
- Maintenance: You have changed. You continue to practice the new behavior.
The best & worst part of these stages are your potential to progress or relapse. My advice- stay positive and always aim to be in the ‘Action-Maintenance’ stages. It may take several tries to figure out what works best for you. You may also have to adjust what works for you as life adjusts itself too (i.e. new occupation).
Now, you can apply the Behavior Change Intro to your 2012 New Year’s Resolutions:
- Choose one (1) N.Y. Resolution
- Identify one (1) Specific Behavior to Change which positively supports your N.Y.R
- Currently on stage _______ of the Readiness to Change Chart ?
- Desire stage ________ on the Readiness to Change Chart.
More next Friday. Have a great week!
