We all would love to incorporate more healthy habits into our daily routine, especially when the risk of getting sick for both our loved ones and us are at an all-time high right now. It's easier said than done, though, since humans are creatures of habit. Not touching your face sounds easy until you realize throughout the day how many times you want to touch your face! Follow these tips to incorporate healthy habits into your life AND get them actually to stick.

1. Start small

Big goals are a great way to psych yourself up and spur motivation, but they also can be hard to achieve right away. To make achieving these goals more manageable, write down your ultimate goal, then break it down into smaller milestones. For instance, if your goal is to start exercising, use this time when we are all staying home more often to try a free 20-minute workout video on YouTube instead of meeting a friend for happy hour. Graduate to a long walk or jog outdoors, and don't forget to celebrate each achievement along the way.

2. Establish a routine

When incorporating a new healthy habit, be very consistent, and schedule the practice into your daily or weekly routine to make it a priority. Trying to eat healthier to help boost your immune system? Set a time every Sunday to meal prep smoothies or overnight oats for breakfast, so you have a quick and healthy meal to start your day.

3. Get a buddy to join you

One of the best ways to stay motivated and accountable when establishing a new healthy habit is to enlist the help of a friend! Finding a friend or family member who will join you in your journey is a guaranteed way to increase success. They can keep you company during long walks and make new healthy habits feel like a social event rather than a chore. Just got home from a social outing? Make it a household event to wash your hands and sing a 20-second song together until you're all done! Now, who thought hand-washing could be so fun?!

4. Don’t give up if you miss a day

If you miss a day or a week or even a month of your new healthy habit, don’t let it stop you. Making these changes are long-term goals to lead an overall healthy lifestyle. If ever you get out of your new routine due to various circumstances, continue it the next day that you can.

5. Track your goals

It can be hard to stay patient while working towards your goals, especially when day to day progress is not recognizable. Whether your goal is to shed some pounds, or establish a new skincare routine, track your progress as you go. Take a before and after photo each week or log how you’re feeling in a journal so that you can visualize the progress that’s happening, even though you might not notice it on a day to day basis. The Dermala Acne Tracker app is an excellent tool for anyone who is starting a new acne treatment and gets frustrated, waiting for results.