How to maintain momentum in behavior change

Marily Oppezzo is a registered dietitian and a behavioral and learning scientist, and she frequently provides advice to faculty and staff through the university’s wellness programs. She emphasizes the importance of doing something to maintain momentum, even if the action falls short of a loftier objective. In addition to making a “good enough” version of your goals, she suggests:
1. Give missed goals a head nod. (Not going to make that run happen? Just put on your tennis shoes.) Simply by giving your goal a shout out, you can keep yourself in rhythm.
2. Try the “one good thing a day” approach. Having the flexibility to spread your change goal to different areas of health and well-being makes it more likely you’ll succeed as we move past the new year and initial motivation fades.
Oppezzo is an instructor at the Stanford Prevention Research Center.