Habits. They can be good, bad or anywhere in between, but they all affect how we live our daily lives and everyday actions. From what time you get up in the morning, to the food you eat and the activities you pursue throughout your day, most things in life are the results of our habits. Unfortunately, forming healthy habits and breaking unhealthy ones is not always an easy task. So, whether you want to break your habit of always sleeping in or pick up a new habit like journaling or working out, continue reading below for some tips and insights into how habits form and how we can build them to improve our lives.
Start small
While the end goal of implementing your new habit might be an overhaul of your daily schedule or a dramatic change in your lifestyle, it shouldn’t start out that way. By starting with small, easy actions, you can better build a foundation on which to base your future successes. For example, if you want to get in better shape, start by doing a few small exercises every day and work up to long, arduous workouts at the gym. Since you aren’t used to exercising as a part of your daily routine, starting too big can doom the habit altogether.
Stacking
Choosing a new habit without first setting yourself up for success can be one of the biggest mistakes made when implementing a new habit. To avoid this, rather than choosing a habit to adopt that diverges from your established daily routine, experts suggest “stacking” your habits. According to The New York Times, by starting small and working new habits into your pre existing routine, habits become easier to implement. Rather than blocking out a new time frame for a habit you want to develop, look for ways to incorporate it into your daily schedule. If you want to get into the habit of reading, try picking up a book instead of your phone while you eat breakfast or before you go to bed. This way, you aren’t setting aside an entirely new time to implement your new habit.
Consistency is key
Regardless of the habit you want to adopt, being consistent is a key part of your success. According to various studies, forming a new habit can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days, with an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. This means that sticking to a new action is integral to having a habit stick. To maximize your success, aim to do your new action daily. That way, your body and mind get used to it and implement it into your daily routine.
