The subject of habits is sensitive and long yet absorbing. One wrong move, one wrong action, and your habit have come to its early grave.
We do not know much about habits and their creation. However, we do know enough to create effective habits that will improve our lives awfully.
Here are 5 things you should consider before creating a new habit.
Identity and power of small steps.
You can’t build a good habit without changing your identity. You can’t start running if you do not consider yourself as an active person. Reading for 60 minutes will be a hard task if you do not consider yourself as a reader. You can’t be organized if you consider yourself an unorganized person.
I’m lying to you, though. You can, but the identity conflict will make you struggle a lot. Your willpower and energy will be so low that they will make you give up ultimately. Furthermore, the lack of willpower may give you another habit. Not a good one, though. I’m sure you don’t want that.
To see big changes, you have to alter your identity first, then your behaviors.
The funny part is that to change your identity, you have to modify your actions. Paradox, isn’t it? However, I didn’t mean big changes. I meant small ones.
If you want to create a habit of running for 30 minutes, you can start by walking for 30 minutes or running for 1 minute and then walk for 29 minutes.
If you want to be organized, it’s better to begin by making your bed each morning and then go to more complex things.
The same goes for reading. You shouldn’t kick off by reading for an hour if you are not used to it. You will give up eventually. So start by reading for one minute. After that, when you feel like it, you can increase that number to 2 minutes, then 3 and so on.
Make it easy, take small steps, and do not rush.
Cues
Cues are double-edged swords. They can be good and they can be bad. The way you play with them will define which habits you are creating. You have to make your cues attractive and noticeable to create good habits.
For example, when I get up every morning, there’s a book waiting for me on my desk. So, when I finish my usual morning stuff and go to sit behind my desk to watch some videos on YouTube, I see a book and my brain understands that this is time for reading. After reading I put the book away and my life continues. In the evening, before going to bed, I put the book back on the desk to find it tomorrow morning.
You can do that almost with everything. Meditation, workout, writing, literally with anything.
So watch out for cues.
Reward
The reward is the most crucial thing in habit-creation. Without a reward, there’s no point in doing that habit. You have to give your brain something sweet. You have to give it a reason to do the behavior you need to do.
In short, you have to give yourself a reward after doing your habit.
For instance, you could tell yourself this: “If I do a morning workout today, I will give you the ability to watch Netflix for 1–2 hours.”. Instead of Netflix, you could use anything you prefer or like.
The dopamine will rise and the motivation will appear. The only thing you need to include is a little willpower.
But make sure that your offer causes pleasurable feelings in your stomach. It’s impossible to deceive a brain. He will not give you a dopamine spike if you do not enjoy watching Netflix. Your candy has to be pleasurable to you. Really pleasurable.
Habit Stacking
Habit Stacking is the way of connecting two or more habits to create more powerful habits.
The explanation is kind of stupid, don’t you think? No need to worry, I’ll explain everything.
To habit stack, you have to find a habit you want to implement in your daily life and connect it to already existing habit.
For instance, you could read a book while drinking your morning coffee. A little workout won’t do bad either. What about twenty push-ups before coming to the kitchen to grab your breakfast? Or, how about meditation? You could do it right after you’ve brushed your teeth, you know.
It’s far easier to stick to your habits when you have connected them to already existing habits.
I hope everything is clear now.
Habits are your buddies or your enemies. Some people think that doing a habit is enough. No, it’s not enough. You have to observe your habits. You have to appreciate them. You have to understand them.
The problem is not in your willpower. The problem is in your tactic or strategy. Change them and the willpower will appear out of nowhere.
As always, thanks for reading.
