Changing Habits Assessment: What Stage Am I In?

Changing Habits Assessment¹: What Stage Am I In?

 Instructions: Check off the statements below that are true for you.

Stage 1

? I think a change would help but I’m not ready to change what I do.

? I think a change would help but I’m not interested in doing anything new.

? I think that it would be too hard to make a change.

Stage 2

? I’m thinking about making a change but not right away.

? Right now, the costs of making a change outweigh² the benefits.

Stage 3

? I’m ready to make a change and would like to do it in the next month.

? I’ve thought about what I’d like to do.

? I’ve made a realistic plan.

? I’ve gotten what I need to carry out my plan.

Stage 4

? I’ve taken action and started my new plan.

? I’ve started my new plan but sometimes I’m tempted³ to slack⁴ off.

? I’ve started my new plan but sometimes I go back to my old way of doing things.

Stage 5

? I’ve stuck with my new routine⁵ for more than six months.

? Now I’m used to doing things differently.

? I find it hard to imagine not sticking with my new habit.

Scoring your quiz

Here’s what your results mean:

If you’ve checked items under stages 1 and/or stage 2:

You’re not ready to change your habits yet. Try this exercise: Think about how a change in habits could benefit you and your family. For example, being more active could help you be healthier. Fill in the blanks below.

? My new habit might be: _________________________

? The benefits would include: _________________________

? What part of this change would be hard for me? _________________________

? Why haven’t I made this change before? _________________________

? How can I work around these problems? _________________________

If you’ve checked items under stage 3:

Congratulations! You’re ready to make a change.

? Choose a date to start and write it here: _________________________

? Think of a weekly reward for yourself for carrying out your plan and write it here: _________________________

If you’ve checked items under stage 4:

Good for you! You’re on the road to a healthy new routine. If you slip up once in a while and go back to your old habits, don’t despair⁶. One slip doesn’t mean you have failed or that you should revert⁷ back to your old habits. You can start fresh tomorrow.

To help you stick with your new plan, think about roadblocks that might come up. Write your answers below.

? What things might get in the way of carrying out my plan? _________________________

? What can I do when those things happen? _________________________

? How can I set up things around the house or in my neighborhood so it’ll be easier to stick with my new habit? _________________________

If you’ve checked items under stage 5:

You should be proud of yourself and what you’ve done! 

? Keep track of your efforts by writing down what you do every day. 

? Vary⁸ your routine to keep it interesting. 

? Think about another change you might want to try. 

? Making more changes will continue to help with weight loss and can improve your health!

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 outweigh   

vt.比...更重，...更重要

参考例句：

• The merits of your plan outweigh the defects.你制定的计划其优点胜过缺点。
• One's merits outweigh one's short-comings.功大于过。

3 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

4 slack   

adj.松弛的，萧条的，懈怠的；vt.使松弛

参考例句：

• Slack off those ropes there,there's a storm coming!把那里的绳索放松，暴风雨就要来了！
• Some are hard at work and some are slack in work.有的勤奋工作，有的则消极怠工。

5 routine   

n.例行公事，惯例；adj.例行的，常规的

参考例句：

• It is everyday routine.这是每天的例行公事。
• She found the hospital routine slightly dull.她感到医院的工作有点枯燥乏味。

6 despair   

vi.灰心丧气，感到沮丧绝望；n.绝望，沮丧

参考例句：

• If you are in the depths of despair,you will be extremely unhappy.如果你彻底地失望，你会十分不开心。
• Don't despair;things will get better soon.不必绝望，事情不久就会好起来。

7 revert   

v.恢复，复归，回到

参考例句：

• Let us revert to the earlier part of the chapter.让我们回到本章的前面部分。
• Shall we revert to the matter we talked about yesterday?我们接着昨天谈过的问题谈，好吗？

8 vary   

vi.变化，有不同；vt.改变，使不同

参考例句：

• Cherries vary in colour from almost black to yellow.樱桃的颜色由近乎黑到黄各不相同。
• Old people don't like to vary their habits.老年人不喜欢改变他们的习惯。