Each of us wakes up every day usually at a set time. If you think about it, you likely have a set pattern in which you do your daily activities. This structure that you’ve created has come about through habits that you’ve adopted over the course of your life.
Many people cling on to their habits as it makes them feel safe and secure. However, they arise in a very short period of time. Usually, most habits are created within 3 weeks. Some are good and others are bad. The key is to always be trying to move away from the bad ones while fostering good, new ones.
As we approach the holidays, keep apprised of your habits and how being around family or just having it be the holidays may impact you. For instance, beginning with Thanksgiving, many of us stop watching our diet or eliminate our exercise routine. We say it’s only a short period of time. We start at Thanksgiving. Once Thanksgiving is over, our lives get busy with shopping or travels. We continue to eat out a lot and/or not exercise. We tell ourselves it’s ok because it’s for a “short” period of time. However, this “short” period of time is long enough (~4 weeks) to form a habit. People who start down this road, stay with it for at least a year or two. During such time, their health is impacted and they’ve lost out on some precious time to ensure they maintain good health.
I’m not trying to ruin anyone’s festive time. By no means is this meant to say that you shouldn’t eat good food or have fun over the holidays. All this is meant to say is act with caution. During the holidays, make sure that a day binge for Thanksgiving is only a day and doesn’t get extended all the way to Christmas and beyond. Everything should always be done with moderation.
Habits are easy to create but much harder to break. Unfortunately, the holidays can be a big cancer for creating bad habits so just be very self-aware. Should you have any questions about MYSL or Surf Soccer or want to find out more details about soccer, feel free to contact me at president@myslsoccer.org
Steve Haubrick is the MYSL/Murrieta Surf Soccer Club President.