Healthy Habits

It takes 21 days to form a habit and 90 days for one to become a lifestyle. I know the stats are always changing but I've always believed in these specific numbers. For me personally, after the 21 days, it automatically becomes subconscious. For all of you who know me on a personal level know I am a huge book lover.

Just a heads up, most of the blogs that I will share, I will give you some great novel recommendations. In reference to habit-forming, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg is an excellent insight on how to form habits, how our subconscious is linked with everyday routines, breaking negative patterns, etc.

I don't want to give away too much, but after I had read that book and along with many other motivational novels, I found myself and still do try and apply everything I have learned into my own life.  No better way to become the best version of yourself than to form healthy habits.

Now by sharing my 2 core habits, I hope to aspire you to look into them yourself, whether you apply it or not cool, but an open mind is the best type of mind. Or perhaps become inspired to read upon habits or things that you never thought you would try or felt confident enough, but I assure you anything you do or attempt, when you apply positive energy as well as the time invested, you shall succeed at whatever it is!

 Positive or Negative but the choice is yours, my friends.

All my life I have been active. Every sport you can think of, I've most likely tried. Since I could remember my parents had involved me in all types. My top favorite would be soccer, swimming, baseball, and track. I've always been known to be competitive and sometimes a sore loser.

 My parents were very big on when you do it something, you follow through and give it everything you got. Quitting was not acceptable in the Rousseau household, and with that mentality, I have to thank my parents dearly for raising me with such moral.

I was about 14 when my parents had us sign up for a fitness center. I remember loving it because it had a pool and my favorite, the sauna! Oh, how I'd love to have a sweaty workout and then indulge in more sweat in the sauna. The cherry on top was a nice swim to calm my nerves and allow my muscles to breathe, followed up a nice shower, and off to bed.

 Ever since my youth I've had a love/hate relationship with the gym. I would be super pumped, go for a few weeks, and then just fall off the wagon. I went through this rollercoaster relationship with the gym up until I had moved out and had to pay for my own membership.

If I didn't go then why pay for it? That had been my motivation for a while, sad I know lol but I had to change my way of thinking towards the gym otherwise I would have probably canceled and never step foot into another again! One day I had a revelation, I was gaining weight due to my thyroid being out of wack. I had never been heavy up until this point.

I was feeling very depressed, up until my dad told me "you have a choice in this Senny, you either allow this poor habit of feeling sorry for yourself to eat you up, or you get up and do something about it. Everyone knows the Nike slogan, Just Do It! Well, I did just that! I decided to get back into the gym and focus my energy on sculpting my body.

 Boy from being so out of shape, I wanted to quit and never face a gym again! Not to mention how I wanted to transform into a ghost due to the way I looked and felt, but that's when you need it the most, that drive and will. After a week went by, I had started to feel like the old Kseniya, fit, and confident.

Every Time I got into that gym, I owned it. It was mine and no one will take that feeling away from me. When you feel good it shows. The gym had become such a part of my life, I would just wake up, put on my cute fit clothes and off to the gym I went, not even realizing!

My gym was apart of my lifestyle now. Fast forward, I go almost every day. The last few weeks being in quarantine has been hard due to the fact I miss my second home, but I now have formed the habit of working out at home, going to youtube, ordering a bunch of resistance bands. When there's a will there's away!

Quarantine sucks, not having the freedom to walk around, feel the sun on your face, or read your favorite book in central park. That's what I miss most, but I can't complain too much now that I have 5 lovely shelves filled with great books.

Every day my boyfriend and I take 30 mins or even more when we feel like it, to read a book. Whether it's together or independently, I love the tranquility that comes over me. Reading has always been a part of me as well. I remember when the Twilight series came out, I begged my mom to get me them and read all 4 books in one night!

I could not put them down! I know I can be maniac sometimes but being immersed in a book is the best feeling ever. I know you avid readers know the feeling I am talking about. Reading is like traveling but then you finally come out of it and realize you're still staring at Grandma's old cat clock.

Now I am not suggesting reading for 8 hours a day, I mean hey go for it but just taking a few minutes out of your day, or a chapter! A chapter a day keeps that brain youthful and yearning for more. Those good cliffhanger books, the ones you can't put down until you know what happens in the end ugh!!

I am so excited just typing this lol. Reading can be boring sometimes, especially when the topic might not be so interesting. But on the positive note, if required to read for school, work, whatever, just think you're now more educated on that topic, and can pass that info on to others:).

Reading has so many benefits to offer. By creating a habit such as this, you never know, one day I just might be coming to your book signing!

Talking about the benefits when forming new habits is great, but letting go of habits that don't serve you.. hmm lets dive right in. They say it takes the same time to break a habit, just as it is to form one. Anyone can argue because it really comes down to that specific person, as well as habits.

Some negative habits can be easier to break than others. It might take you just a second to realize how unattractive it is when you have no nails due to biting, or years! Everyone's different and depending on how deeply ingrained that habit is.

Letting go of habits that don't serve you is tough but remember you are tougher! Believe that you want and deserve to let go of whatever it is that prevents your happiness. Whether its smoking cigarettes or picking at your cuticles, be proud of yourself for breaking down those unhealthy habits one at a time!