We're all creatures of habit. We tend to wake up at the same time each day, brush our teeth, have morning coffee and commute to work, following the same patterns every day.So why is it so hard to form new healthyhabits?Behavioral scientists who study habit formation say that many of us try to create healthy habits the wrong way. We make bold resolutions to start exercising or lose weight, for example, without taking the steps needed to set ourselves up for success.Here are some tips, backed by research, for forming new healthy habits.

Forming new habits

Many of us fall into end-of-the-day patterns as well. Do you tend to flop on the couch after work and turn on the TV? That might be a good time to do a single daily yoga pose.Start small.B.J. Fogg, a Stanford University researcher and author of the book "Tiny Habits," notes that big behavior changes require a high level of motivation that often can't be sustained. He suggests starting with tiny habits to make the new habit as easy as possible in the beginning. Taking a daily short walk, for example, could be the beginning of an exercise habit. Or, putting an apple in your bag every day could lead to better eating habits.

Starting small

It's not about willpower. Good habits happen when we set ourselves up for success. Our new challenge will show you how. We're all creatures of habit. We tend to wake up at the same time each day, brush our teeth, have morning coffee and commute to work, following the same patterns every day.

How to Build Healthy Habits

Ricardo da Silva