The Easiest Way to Form a New Habit........

​Combine a little science and a little practical advice to not just start, but stick with something you've always wanted to do.

If you've ever embarked on a new challenge, you've probably experienced what I like to call the improvement ripple effect: How focusing on improving one thing, no matter how small, naturally leads to improvements in other areas.

Research backs up the premise. Take leadership: Google found that when managers talked with new hires on their first day about their roles and responsibilities, not only did those new employees reach expected productivity levels a month faster than other employees, the managers became better leaders. Doing one thing naturally led to doing other things.
The same holds true with exercise and diet: Many people, once they start to work out regularly, naturally begin to eat healthier. 

One study found that people who exercised for twelve weeks (long enough to make exercise a part of their lifestyle) still liked fatty or high-calorie foods just as much, but no longer wanted to eat them as much. As the researchers say, "Exercise might improve food reward and eating behavior traits linked to the susceptibility to over-consume."

Or in non researcher-speak, I might still love ice cream... but a by-product of regular exercise -- of wanting to improve one area of my life -- means I won't crave ice cream as much. Read more...

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