3 Steps to Creating New Habits
The idea of adding habits and systems can sound overwhelming. You probably feel like you’re already stretched so thin - how could you possibly add or learn one more thing?
The thing with habits is they actually GIVE you more time and help free up space to do the things you want to do (even if that is doing nothing at all).
Let’s talk about forming new habits. We all have times in our lives when we intentionally want to change our behavior for the better and create new habits for ourselves. This could be getting in the habit of eating healthier and drinking more water. Or it could be moving more and taking the dog for a daily walk. Or it could be work-related, spiritual, or…whatever.
Basically, there are so many areas in our lives that could be improved and made easier if we created new habits. The right habits and strategies can help you get:
-unstuck from a routine that’s draining or unfulfilling
-give you more time to do the thing you love with the people you care about
-provide a consistent, efficient flow and calm to your day to day
-release self-doubt or limiting beliefs around opportunities you want to explore
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 3-step process that makes it easy to follow until you’ve made it something we do without having to think about the new behavior and made it a true habit – like brushing your teeth.
1)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. Don’t just tell yourself you want to exercise more. Instead, say something more like “I will go for a 30-minute walk every single day”. Deciding what your new habit will be and committing to when and how you’re going to do it, is half the battle.
2)Remind Yourself To Get It Done
The next few days should be smooth sailing. You’re motivated and excited to get this 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 routines.
Maybe it’s raining and you don’t really want to go out and walk. Or maybe you didn’t carve out time - so your day just gets away from you. This is when it’s important to have a daily reminder. Set an alert on your phone or add the new habit to your daily to-do list for a while. Having an accountability buddy or even just telling people you are going to do it can also make it more likely to happen.
3)Do it Consistently So That It Becomes A Habit
This brings us to the last step. It can take some time before a new behavior becomes a true habit. Until then, having a consistent 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 daily walk part of your after-dinner routine, or change from grabbing a snack at the vending machine at work at 10:00 in the morning to packing a healthy snack.
Whatever behavior you wish to change or add - by deciding what new habit to create, and creating reminders to make sure you’re practicing the routine until it’s second nature and you’ll be well on your way to forming a new good habit.
Want to learn more? CLICK HERE to listen to this podcast episode with Amber Wilfahrt on The Power of Habits.