Behavioural Change: Why Is It So Hard and How Can We Do It Better?

Behavioural change is the process of altering habits and behaviours for the long term. It can have significant benefits for our health, wellbeing, and environment. However, changing behaviour is not easy. It requires motivation, intention, and action. In this newsletter, we will explore some of the common challenges and opportunities for behavioural change in individuals.

What Influences Behaviour?

Behaviour is influenced by a complex interplay of factors, such as:

Personal attitude: This is how we feel about a behaviour and its consequences. For example, if we believe that smoking is harmful and unpleasant, we are more likely to quit.

Social norm: This is what we perceive to be the expected or acceptable behaviour in a given situation or group. For example, if we see that most of our friends recycle, we are more likely to do the same.

Perceived control: This is how confident we are in our ability to perform a behaviour and overcome any barriers or challenges. For example, if we have access to healthy food options and feel confident in cooking them, we are more likely to eat healthily.

Habit: This is a behaviour that we perform automatically and repeatedly without much conscious thought. For example, brushing our teeth every morning is a habit that we do not need to think about.

These factors can work together or against each other to influence our behaviour. For instance, we may have a positive attitude towards exercise, but if we lack social support, time, or resources, we may not be able to act on our intention.

What Are Some Common Challenges for Behavioural Change?

Some of the common challenges that people face when trying to change their behaviour are:

Lack of awareness: Sometimes, people may not be aware of the need or benefits of changing their behaviour. They may not know the risks or consequences of their current behaviour, or they may not have accurate information about the alternatives.

Lack of motivation: Sometimes, people may not have a strong enough reason or incentive to change their behaviour. They may not value the outcomes or rewards of changing their behaviour, or they may not believe that they can achieve them.

Lack of skills: Sometimes, people may not have the necessary skills or knowledge to perform a new behaviour. They may not know how to start, what to do, or how to cope with difficulties or setbacks.

Lack of support: Sometimes, people may not have enough social or environmental support to change their behaviour. They may face peer pressure, stigma, or resistance from others who do not share their goals or values. They may also lack access to resources, facilities, or services that can facilitate their behaviour change.

What Are Some Opportunities for Behavioural Change?

Despite these challenges, there are also many opportunities and strategies that can help us change our behaviour for the better. Some of these are:

Increasing awareness: One way to motivate ourselves to change our behaviour is to increase our awareness of the need and benefits of doing so. We can do this by seeking reliable information, feedback, or advice from credible sources, such as health professionals, experts, or trusted friends.

Setting goals: Another way to motivate ourselves to change our behaviour is to set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART) goals that reflect our values and priorities. We can also break down our goals into smaller and easier steps that can help us track our progress and celebrate our achievements.

Learning skills: A third way to motivate ourselves to change our behaviour is to learn new skills or improve existing ones that can help us perform the desired behaviour. We can do this by seeking training, coaching, or guidance from qualified professionals or experienced peers who can teach us the best practices and tips for success.

Seeking support: A fourth way to motivate ourselves to change our behaviour is to seek social and environmental support that can encourage and enable us to do so. We can do this by joining groups, communities, or networks that share our goals and values; asking for help or feedback from friends, family, or mentors; and creating or finding conducive settings that make it easier for us to perform the new behaviour.

Conclusion

Behavioural change is a challenging but rewarding process that can improve our health, wellbeing, and environment. By understanding the factors that influence our behaviour and applying some effective strategies for overcoming the barriers and enhancing the facilitators, we can achieve our goals and make positive changes in our lives.