3 Steps to Creating New Habits
Make yourself a priority once in a while. It’s not selfish. It’s necessary. ~ Oprah Winfrey
We all have times in our lives where we intentionally want to change our behavior for the better and create new habits for ourselves. The new year is a time for those thoughts as we see the new year as new beginnings. These behaviors could be getting in the habit of eating healthier, drinking less wine and drinking more water. Or it could be moving more and taking a daily walk. Or maybe it’s work related, or something spiritual… There are so many areas in our lives that could be improved and made easier if we created new habits.
Getting into the habit of doing something is often easier said than done. We seem to acquire bad habits without any effort, but getting into a “good” habit can be a little more challenging.
Let’s break it down into a three-step process that makes it easy to follow until we’ve internalized the new behavior and made it a true habit – something we do automatically without having to think about, like brushing our teeth.
Decide What You Want To Do
The first step is to decide what you want that new habit to be. Be as specific as possible. So if for instance, you want to start meditating, don’t just tell yourself you want to meditate more. Instead, say something like “I will meditate 10 minutes every day”. Deciding what your new habit will be and committing to when and how you’re going to do it is half the battle.
Remind Yourself To Get It Done
As you begin, the first few days should be smooth sailing because you’re motivated and excited about getting it done. Sticking to your new habit isn’t an issue. But a few days in, you’ll notice that it’s easy to slip back into old habits.
Maybe you’re distracted and before you know it your day just gets away from you. This is when it’s important to have a daily reminder. Set an alert on your phone, add the new habit to your calendar and block out time, or add the new habit to your daily to-do list for a while.
Make It Part Of Your Routine Until It Becomes A Habit
This brings us to the last step. It will take some time before a new behavior becomes a true habit. Until then, a routine will work to your best advantage. Even before the new behavior becomes automatic, a routine will help you get it done without having to spend a lot of willpower or relying on daily reminders.
Make that new daily habit part of your morning or evening routine if it’s meditating. If it’s daily walks block out some time in the day that you will take time away from your desk to get out and walk. Want to eat less? Resist grabbing a sugary snack and pick a healthy snack instead, like a fruit or nuts.
Go ahead, decide now to create your new habit, practice the routine until it’s second nature and you’ll be well on your way to forming a new good habit.
Janet McIntosh
Business Systems Strategies
Before you go, here are some helpful resources to get started on your new habit journey:
Habits
The Power of Habits by Charles Duhigg
Meditation
Audible’s – 21 Days of Guided Meditation
