<p>Online shopping, watching pornography, stress eating, responding to work emails on holidays, and struggling to make time for friends are some habits that people find hard to break, say life coaches and mental health professionals in Bengaluru. Meeting fitness goals remains a challenge for most people, they add. </p>.<p>Experts say people fail to achieve New Year’s resolutions such as these because they view them as a bucket list item rather than as a change they need to make.</p>.<p>Ranjini Rao, an executive coach with a decade of experience, says, “Ask people why they want to stop drinking, and they may say, ‘Because it’s a new year.’ This is different from saying, ‘I love myself and I want to focus on my health’.” She believes this “perspective” fosters the willpower and resilience to break old habits and build new ones. She gives an example: “If colleagues insist you drink and you give in, view it as a one-time lapse, rather than beating yourself up and quitting.”</p>.Year-end frenzy for drivers, restaurant and delivery staff.<p><strong>Course correction</strong></p>.<p>Inculcating a habit often starts with rewiring a person’s routine, which can be tough, says wellness habit coach Megha. “Women with PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) must sleep on time but I have a client who works at night,” she explains.</p>.<p>Inspiron, a psychological wellbeing centre, has launched ‘Habit Change — A 21-Day Transformation Program’ to address micro-habits like poor sleep, procrastination and screen addiction. “We’ve received over 200 enquiries from people in the 18-45 age group. The sessions start in mid-January,” says its founder Priyanka M B.</p>.<p><strong>Accountability partner</strong></p>.<p>Psychologist and founder of Becoming Shanta, Nithya J Rao, pairs interested clients with an ‘Accountability Buddy’ so they don’t slack off. “If you don’t feel like hitting the gym, your buddy will nudge and tell you ‘You must go’,” she explains.</p>.<p>Your accountability partner should push you but without judgement, says facilitator Roy Jacob. “It could be a friend or life partner you message after completing each task. And if they don’t get an update, they should ask ‘What happened?’ and help you reassess,” he says.</p>.<p>Megha holds her clients accountable by asking for photos of their meals, whether they are eating at home, at work, or at a restaurant.</p>.<p><strong>4Cs for change</strong></p>.<p>Psychologist Priyanka M B recommends the 4Cs for building a habit: being clear about your goals and intention, consistently working towards short-term goals, celebrating small milestones (with a glass of juice or a movie night), and communicating progress with your close circle. She urges people to set “realistic goals”, after factoring in their personal and professional responsibilities and also their health.</p>.<p><strong>Need experts?</strong></p>.<p>Facilitator Roy Jacob will conduct the ‘Habits that stick’ workshop on January 5, 5 pm, at Atta Galatta, Indiranagar. Details on @attagalatta on Instagram.</p>.<p>The fee for long-term professional help varies. It can range from Rs 4,000 for a 3-month module to Rs 3,500 for a 3-week programme and Rs 2,000 for a 90-minute session. Experts create a vision board, recommend journalling and listening to podcasts, and provide periodic reminders and reviews.</p>
<p>Online shopping, watching pornography, stress eating, responding to work emails on holidays, and struggling to make time for friends are some habits that people find hard to break, say life coaches and mental health professionals in Bengaluru. Meeting fitness goals remains a challenge for most people, they add. </p>.<p>Experts say people fail to achieve New Year’s resolutions such as these because they view them as a bucket list item rather than as a change they need to make.</p>.<p>Ranjini Rao, an executive coach with a decade of experience, says, “Ask people why they want to stop drinking, and they may say, ‘Because it’s a new year.’ This is different from saying, ‘I love myself and I want to focus on my health’.” She believes this “perspective” fosters the willpower and resilience to break old habits and build new ones. She gives an example: “If colleagues insist you drink and you give in, view it as a one-time lapse, rather than beating yourself up and quitting.”</p>.Year-end frenzy for drivers, restaurant and delivery staff.<p><strong>Course correction</strong></p>.<p>Inculcating a habit often starts with rewiring a person’s routine, which can be tough, says wellness habit coach Megha. “Women with PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) must sleep on time but I have a client who works at night,” she explains.</p>.<p>Inspiron, a psychological wellbeing centre, has launched ‘Habit Change — A 21-Day Transformation Program’ to address micro-habits like poor sleep, procrastination and screen addiction. “We’ve received over 200 enquiries from people in the 18-45 age group. The sessions start in mid-January,” says its founder Priyanka M B.</p>.<p><strong>Accountability partner</strong></p>.<p>Psychologist and founder of Becoming Shanta, Nithya J Rao, pairs interested clients with an ‘Accountability Buddy’ so they don’t slack off. “If you don’t feel like hitting the gym, your buddy will nudge and tell you ‘You must go’,” she explains.</p>.<p>Your accountability partner should push you but without judgement, says facilitator Roy Jacob. “It could be a friend or life partner you message after completing each task. And if they don’t get an update, they should ask ‘What happened?’ and help you reassess,” he says.</p>.<p>Megha holds her clients accountable by asking for photos of their meals, whether they are eating at home, at work, or at a restaurant.</p>.<p><strong>4Cs for change</strong></p>.<p>Psychologist Priyanka M B recommends the 4Cs for building a habit: being clear about your goals and intention, consistently working towards short-term goals, celebrating small milestones (with a glass of juice or a movie night), and communicating progress with your close circle. She urges people to set “realistic goals”, after factoring in their personal and professional responsibilities and also their health.</p>.<p><strong>Need experts?</strong></p>.<p>Facilitator Roy Jacob will conduct the ‘Habits that stick’ workshop on January 5, 5 pm, at Atta Galatta, Indiranagar. Details on @attagalatta on Instagram.</p>.<p>The fee for long-term professional help varies. It can range from Rs 4,000 for a 3-month module to Rs 3,500 for a 3-week programme and Rs 2,000 for a 90-minute session. Experts create a vision board, recommend journalling and listening to podcasts, and provide periodic reminders and reviews.</p>