Are you ready to make that change?

Experts tell us that it is critical to be motivated and ready to perform a change in behaviour. Firstly, you need to be interested in or concerned about the need for change. Secondly, you have to be convinced that the change is in your best interest or will benefit you more than it will cost you. Thirdly, you need to set a plan of action that you are committed to implementing and, fourthly, you must take the actions that are necessary to make and sustain the change.

Various models for change exist; one of them is called the Transtheoretical Model. In this model, behaviour change is seen as a five-stage process or continuum related to a person’s readiness to change. People go through these stages at varying rates, often moving back and forth along the continuum a number of times before realising their goal. Sometimes we go through the phases intuitively, but sometimes it is necessary to work through them.

To be ready for change, you need to go through these phases:

Pre-contemplation phase

In this stage you have little or no consideration of a change in your current behaviour. You are perhaps even unaware that your behaviour is a cause for concern. However, wellness programmes at work, the media, general awareness programmes or the start of a new year (i.e. turning over a new leaf) may change your attitude.

Contemplation phase

At this stage you start examining your current behaviour and the potential of changing it for the better. You think about the rewards that changed behaviour can bring to you, for example, more money for other things when you stop smoking, less stress when you have less debt, better family relations when you control your anger or being healthier when you lose some weight.

After such an evaluation, you reach the decision to make a change.

Preparation phase

During this stage, you make a commitment to take action to change your behaviour and you develop a plan and strategy for change. Such a plan should be reasonable and should set specific goals, for example to lose 5 kg by the end of February.

Action phase

Now is the time when you implement your plan and take the steps needed to change your current behaviour for the better. You revise your plan if necessary and you seek support from your EAP, family and friends for staying motivated and committed.

It may take three to six months before you become comfortable with the new behaviour.

Maintenance phase

This is perhaps the most difficult stage where your new behaviour is sustained for the rest of your life – where it becomes part of your lifestyle.

There may be times when you slip back into your old behaviour, but this is not the end of the world. You just have to re-commit to the change in your behaviour – you’ve come this far and you can do it again. Don’t give up on yourself.

Are you ready?

The beginning of a new year is not the only time to make resolutions to change behaviour for the better. You can do it at any time of the year. If you’re not ready for the change now, consider going through the phases and commit to the implementation of the change sometime during January, or in February, or at any other time of the year. This way your chances of seeing the resolution through are much improved.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about New Year’s resolution or behaviour change.