Change isn’t always a straight path. Sometimes we move forward, stumble, and find our footing again. A lapse or relapse doesn’t mean failure - it’s part of the process of learning, rebuilding, and growing stronger each time you rise.

Maintenance is where real transformation takes root. It’s the stage of steady growth, resilience, and ongoing care - where your new habits become part of who you are, and lasting change becomes your new normal.

The Action stage is where change becomes real. After planning and preparation, this is the moment you step forward, take consistent steps, and begin living the change you imagined.

Preparation is the bridge between thinking about change and taking action. It’s the superpower of foresight — the ability to look ahead, anticipate challenges, and make change smoother, easier, and more successful.

Contemplation is the stage where we pause and weigh things up. It’s the moment of ambivalence - part of us wants to hold on to a habit because it feels comfortable, while another part begins to imagine life without it.

Discover the first stage of the Stages of Change model — Precontemplation. This Stoptober, explore how small habits, automatic behaviours, and daily routines shape your life, and learn why simple awareness is the essential first step toward lasting change.