Creating new habits isn’t easy. Here are six simple hacks
that will make it a little easier. Use them until you’ve internalized the new
habit and don’t need them anymore.
Schedule It And Put It On The To-Do List
Sometimes we forget to do that new thing we were trying.
Maybe we forget that we’re supposed to be having eggs for breakfast instead of
a stack of waffles, or that we need to get that daily walk in.
Schedule your new habits or make them part of your daily
to-do list until they become something you do automatically.
Make It Public and Be Accountable
Let family and friends know what new habits you’re trying to
establish. They will call you out if you don’t stick to your plan and get you
back on track.
You may even go as far as sharing it publicly on Facebook or
write a blog about your new journey. Knowing that others read it and know about
it might be just enough to keep you going when you feel like throwing in the
towel.
Piggyback On A Habit You Already Have
Whenever possible, add the new habit to one you already
have. For example, if you fix a cup of tea or coffee at 4pm, and you want to
get in the habit of taking a daily walk, make the new ritual to go for your
walk and then come back and enjoy your tea.
It’s much easier to amend an existing habit or ritual than
creating an entirely new one.
Make Slipups Costly
Here’s a fun idea. Put a jar on the kitchen counter and each
time you slip back into your bad habit or forget to stick to the new one you
have to put five dollars in the jar. It will quickly help you remember to skip
that sugary food and motivate you to go out for that walk. For extra motivation
donate the money to charity at the end of the month or hand it over to your
spouse to go spend on him or herself.
Find A Partner and Help Each Other Along
Find someone with the same or similar goal. This could be a
workout partner or a diet buddy. Keep tabs on each other and encourage each
other to keep going. It’s much harder to skip a walk if you know someone else
is depending on you being there.
Make It A Group Challenge
If one accountability partner is good, a whole group is even
better. And they don’t even need to be local. Find a supportive group online
and challenge each other to stick to your new habit for the next 30 days or so.
Not wanting to be the first one to give up will keep all of you going until you
establish that new habit.
I definitely fall into habits/routines! But I don't really see it as a bad thing at all - I mean, there can be bad habits, but I see myself as being actually an inspiration to a lot people because my habits are very healthy!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! I need to try some of these to get more consistent with my planks, lunges, and squats! I like the idea of piggybacking off of other good habits!
ReplyDeleteScheduling it is SO SO important. That's how I build new habits.
ReplyDeleteSupport is so important for accountability!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the piggybacking idea!
ReplyDeleteI really like rewards for healthy habits :)
ReplyDeleteThese are all Great Tips!!! I love the one about putting the jar on the counter for slip-ups...I'm going to try this :-)
ReplyDeleteThese are really great tips! Accountability and rewards are key for me!
ReplyDelete