Bad habits/Good habits

This is a GOOD habit!  :)

Why is it that bad habits are so hard to break and good habits are so hard to keep?  I was thinking of that this morning as I was exercising at the gym...for the first time in months.  I know exercising and physical activity are good for me, yet I find ways to put them off and make excuses.  I think I came up with a possible answer though.

My husband teaches at a local university and his schedule changes every eight weeks.  Some of his  classes are on campus and some are online.  Because of his weird schedule (or lack therof) he's often home during the day.  Now, I do best with a routine and at least a little structure in my day and when he is home, I get totally thrown off.  Not because of anything he does or doesn't do but just because he's there and I want to be available if he needs me for something.

So, last night I told him that I was going to the gym this morning at 9:30 am and he was welcome to join me but I was going.  What a shock!  We were both in the car by 9:30 am and we both got some good exercise in and it felt good.

What I learned (ok, I already knew these things but they were reinforced this morning)...Structure and routine are our friends.  Our bodies naturally function by an internal clock and we can use that to our advantage.  We have control over the choices we make.  We don't have to make excuses.   We can break bad habits by changing our thought patterns, making a plan and sticking to it...even if it's just for today.