Precontemplating change

Relapses are common in any behaviour change. You may experience feelings of failure, disappointment, and frustration. Don't let these setbacks undermine your self-confidence. Instead, take a good look at why it happened. What triggered the relapse? How can you av...

This stage of change involves successfully avoiding former behaviours and continuing with the new behaviours.

If you are trying to maintain a new behaviour:

1. Look for ways to avoid temptation.
2. Try to replace old habits with positi...

During this stage of change, you might begin making small changes to prepare for a larger change. For example, if losing weight is your goal, you might switch to lower-fat foods or join a health club.

Some steps you can take to improve your chances of successf...

People become increasingly aware of the potential benefits of making a change, but the costs to make the change creates conflict and uncertainty that can last months or even years. People in this stage view change as a process of giving something up rather than a means of gain.

During this stage of change, people begin taking direct action in order to accomplish their goals. But resolutions may fail because the previous steps have not been given enough attention.

• If you are taking action towards achieving your goal, reward yourself for ...

To make a successful change, you need to understand three elements in changing a behaviour:

• Readiness to change: Having the resources and knowledge to make a lasting change.
• Barriers to change: Finding out what is preventing...

Making a lasting change in behaviour can be very difficult. It requires a commitment of time, effort, and emotion.

Whether you want to lose weight, or accomplish another goal, there is no single solution that works for everyone. During this period, many people become disco...