The importance of routines for long-term health
In order to establish new healthy habits, and those new pathways in your brain, you have to plan for it, and practice. Each habit begins with a cue, “which makes you start the habit, which is the routine. Then there’s the reward that follows the habit,” Dr. Hassan says.
“Your new cue could be something as simple as putting your running shoes by the door. After enough time and practice, your brain will see your running shoes and know that it’s time to go for a walk, without having to think about it, and the habit will be formed,” Dr. Hassan recommends.
Set yourself up for success by making it as easy as possible to adopt your new habit, whether it’s packing your lunch or setting out your gym clothes the night before. Dr. Hassan shares a personal example. After a busy day of seeing patients, she would often feel very tired and drained in the afternoon. “Now, every single day, 365 days a year, I put a red apple on my desk, and at 3 o’clock I have it as a snack. Everyone knows this about my desk,” she laughs. “If I had to go to the kitchen to grab the apple instead of having it right on my desk, I probably wouldn’t do it as regularly.”