Are you ready for change?

Are You Ready for Change? Are you thinking about changing a bad habit or unhealthy behavior? Take this “ready or not” quiz and see just how ready you are. Examples of problem health behaviors that are difficult to change include: • overeating and other eating disorders • abuse of drugs, alcohol or pornography • smoking or chewing tobacco • compulsive gambling or compulsive Internet use • any stubborn habit that has the potential to negatively affect your health Experts in behavioral change have found that people move through five distinct stages when they go about trying to change a health-related behavior. The stages are: 1. Precontemplation: having no desire to change 2. Contemplation: knowing one should change but not taking any steps toward change 3. Preparation: taking the initial steps to change, such as learning more, seeking advice or simply committing to change 4. Action: engaging in change behavior 5. Maintenance: changes are incorporated into a person's daily life It is important to assess where you are in this process so that you can take appropriate action to move through your current stage and enhance your chance of success.

http://www.valueoptions.com/spotlight_heart/html/pdfs/Quizzes/Are_You_Ready_for_Change.pdf