Starting a new habit doesn’t seem like it should be that hard, but it is. Learn some easy tips that will make it easier for you to develop great new habits.
The great thing about habits is that you don’t have to think about them. They are just a normal part of your day, kind of like brushing your teeth. The problem is that if something isn’t already a habit for you, it can be difficult to get it started.
Habit development takes a little bit of personal discipline, but there are also a few things you can do to make it a lot easier.
1Make a 30 Day Commitment to Habit Development
Most experts agree that it takes at least three weeks to develop a new habit.
When you start out, make a commitment to stick with it for 30 days. Then you can review your progress and see if you want to continue.
2 Replace What You Lost
If the new habit that you are starting is to break an old habit, you have to replace any needs that you’ve lost. If smoking gave you something to do with your hands, start a new hobby that uses them. If watching television helped you to relax and you want to give it up, find something else to do that is relaxing.
Replacing your needs is a great way to fast track your habit development.
3Be Consistent
One of the most critical factors in habit development is consistency. Even if you don’t intend to practice your new habit every day, you should do it daily for the first 30 days. This will make it much easier for you to turn your new activity into a habit.
Consistency also applies to the time of day that you practice your new habit. If you want to start exercising, do it at the same time every day.
4Start Slow
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they are trying to develop new habits is to start out too big. If your goal is to start studying for two hours each day, start out with a goal of only 30 minutes per day. Once that becomes a normal part of your routine, then you can increase the time.
5Get Rid of Temptations
Once you fully develop a habit, temptations won’t bother you as much. However, while you are still in the habit development phase, they could be a problem. If you are trying to stop eating junk food, remove it from your house for the first month. If you want to stop watching so much tv, put your cable subscription on hold.
6Set Up Reminders to Develop New Habits
One of the biggest stumbling blocks to habit development is simply forgetting that you want to do it. This is why you’re trying to make it a habit, right? The problem is that each day you forget to practice your new habit, it becomes harder to establish it as a habit.
For the first 30 days, don’t be afraid to set up reminders for yourself. This can be an email reminder or even notes that you place around your house or workspace.
Another good reminder is to find a buddy who wants to start a new habit with you. However, you have to make sure that your buddy isn’t going to be someone who will let you skip it.
7Allow Imperfection
Some people will be able to decide what they want to do, do it every day, and make it a habit on their first try. Many other people will struggle. Make sure that you give it an honest effort, however you should expect to have a few bumps in the road along the way.
8Don’t Allow Negativity
Negative thinking is a big reason that people struggle with habit development. If the habit you want to start isn’t something you like to do (yet!), it’s too easy to say “I don’t want to do it”. An easy way to break this pattern of negative thinking is to use the word “but”. Now, when the negative thought creeps into your head, you can finish it. “I don’t want to do it, but I know that it will make me healthier.”
9Call it an Experiment
Sometimes that pressure of having to do something is enough to make it hard to develop a habit. Instead of telling yourself that this is a new habit that will be with you forever, call it a 30 day experiment. Then, you can review where things stand at the 30 day mark to determine if you want to continue with the new habit.
10Habit Development Should Be For You, Not Anyone Else
This is a big key related to any kind of habit development. If you are trying to do something because someone else wants you to, it’s going to be a struggle to turn the action into a habit. However, if you can find a way to make it about you, it will be much easier.
Don’t start exercising because your spouse wants you too. Start exercising because you want to be healthy.
What Do You Think?
Do you have any other tricks that help you with habit development? Have any of these techniques worked for you?
Share with your friends!
