Thinking about change, planning for change, and making your change happen all take work. Keeping a change going can be just as hard. It takes time to make it your new "normal." And you can expect to have a few tough times.

Here are some things you can do to help make a change part of your new lifestyle.

• Keep your change skills ready at all times. It's good to keep asking yourself:
  • What were my personal reasons for making this change? Why were these important to me?
  • What values led me to make this change?
  • What kind of person do I want to be?
  • What barriers do I need to watch for? What are the best ways I've handled these barriers in the past? What other ways can I try?
• Stay calm, learn, and move on if things don't go as planned. Nearly everyone who succeeds with change has some tough times along the way. It's normal.
  • Turn your experience into a lesson, and learn from it. Ask yourself, "What will I do differently next time?"
  • Every time you notice a barrier, record it in a journal. This makes it easier to stay in control and plan ways to cope next time.
  • Think again about the things you're trying, and see if you need to change any of them. For example, you may notice that your change is harder to maintain when you're in a certain mood. What can you try the next time you're in that mood?
  • Stay connected with people who understand how important this change is to you.
  • Spend time with people who lead the kind of healthy lifestyle you've chosen for yourself.
• Remember, things won't always be perfect. The important thing is that you keep trying, even after you've had some barriers or tough times along the way.