Healthy habits are built one small step at a time
- Kym at pip nutrition
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
When it comes to gut health, it's not only what you eat, but how and even when. Healthy habits take time to build, and I've worked with the free app NowNext to support you.
Have you ever started a healthy eating plan full of motivation, only to find yourself slipping back into old routines a few weeks later? You're not alone. One of the biggest lessons from behavioural science is that healthy habits aren't just built through willpower, but by making small changes that are easy to repeat until they become automatic.
I drew on my experience of behaviour change strategies while writing for the NowNext app. Once you've registered and set your health goal - for instance, drinking more water to support your digestion, or eating more vegetables - you can explore some of my simple techniques to make lasting change more achievable.
Healthy habits
Some of my favourite techniques that I share in the app include:
linking a new habit to something you already do (it's called habit stacking). Drink a glass of water every time you have a snack, for example.
making healthy choices easier to see and reach for - put your fruit bowl at eye level
planning ahead for busy days. Pack those snacks in your work bag
focusing on one small change at a time - and not trying to eat all the beans, greens, grains and berries in one go! (ouch)
You don't need to change everything overnight. Adding one extra serve of vegetables to dinner, drinking a glass of water with lunch and planning tomorrow's meals are all examples of habits that can build momentum.
As a clinical nutritionist, that's exactly how I approach gut health. Improving your digestion and the quality of your gut microbiota is supported by consistent habits, repeated over weeks and months.
If you're looking for practical support to build healthier routines for your gut and your overall wellbeing, the free Australian Government-funded NowNext app is a great place to start. It helps turn your best intentions into habits that stick!
If we're working together in the pip nutrition clinic, the app is a great way to build gut-healthy habits in conjunction with my personalised support for your diet.
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