Okay. Even though a healthy environment will support healthy behavior, things will never be perfect. And it will take some trial and error to get it right.
So, having backup strategies that you can turn to when needed will help you stay the course over the gradual transition that is lifestyle change.
As it happens, your backup strategies are the same cognitive tools that you’re familiar with—mental effort in the form of discipline, willpower, self-control, and so forth.
Most importantly, you need to have enough mental reserves available when you need them. That way, if you must use self-control to power down and get to bed on time, it’s not a heavy lift.
Having enough backup mental reserves available means not wasting mental effort when you don’t need to.
It also means building resilience through activities that help replenish and increase your cognitive reserves. We’ve harped on these all along. These are your self-care practices.
