Overview:
In this lesson, the focus is on the stress and resistance often encountered during lifestyle change. As individuals make changes, they experience novelty, which can drive motivation—for a time. However, as the newness fades, resistance often sets in. The lesson will help to equip individuals with strategies to manage stress and resistance until their new habits become automatic. Two primary steps in managing stress are taught: 1) identifying stress that matters, and 2) navigating stress and resistance through mindfulness.
Topic Summary:
- Resistance and stress often increase after the initial enthusiasm of starting a lifestyle change program wears off.
- The two-step strategy to manage this stress involves identifying stress that matters and navigating it through mindfulness.
- Stress that matters refers to day-to-day stressors that sap motivation and mental energy, thereby hindering lifestyle changes.
- Journaling is recommended as a method to identify these stressors through a stress inventory.
- Once stressors are identified, they should be reviewed, categorized, and prioritized to form an action plan.
- The two main strategies for dealing with stressors are changing what can be changed and reframing what cannot be changed.
