Developing Good Habits

We have all read articles and books about how to develop healthy habits. Whether you are trying to create new patterns for eating, exercising or for work, creating new habits is not easy.  You have tried dieting, you are running, or you work out at the gym.  You monitor what you eat, probably eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and you are losing some weight. However, you still gain a few pounds here and there no matter what you do. Physical improvement is just one of many aspects on the path to creating positive habits. Even if it is just a new work habit you are trying to create, we all struggle from time to time in creating new habits.  I struggle with Developing Good Habits and wanted to share some of the things I have learned in my journey.

What is Good Habits?

Per Google:  Good habits are those repetitive actions or behaviors you want to repeat. They have positive physical, emotional, or psychological consequences. Bad habits are those actions you repeat that have negative consequences.

 

Developing Good Habits isn’t Easy

I am sure you have heard of the importance of building new habits, and you know it is time to develop lifelong healthy habits that will work for you and the rest of your life. This habit-building process is challenging. But it is possible to create the patterns that will become powerful weapons in your arsenal. The key to establishing lifelong habits is to practice them daily. So what can you do to develop healthy habits that last a lifetime?

Jerry Seinfeld’s Approach

I love and still enjoy watching re-runs of Seinfeld.  It is one of my favorite shows!  So when I read about his success at creating a habit, I had to share!

• Try Jerry Seinfeld’s approach. Seinfeld says he attributes his success to writing for one hour each day. Once, someone asked him how he manages the writing discipline. He stated that he created a system. Each time he’d write for an hour, he’d put an “x” mark on that date in his calendar. After weeks of marking “x” on the calendar, he reached the point where his body could not imagine breaking that habit. So he kept going. His intense need to keep marking “x” got stronger than his desire to skip a day. And that’s why he succeeded.

Currently, I am working on this with my blog.  Everyday I write or work on my blog for an hour, then mark an “X” in my calendar.  Two weeks in, and still staying consistent!

Discover Your Why

Apparently, this is another item I struggle with all the time.  My hubby’s business pays the bills.  My blog is something I do to earn “fun” money and it is a creative outlet. But is that enough?  Should there be more to my “why” so that I am motivated to work harder, do more and want more success?  I ask myself this question on a daily basis.  Hence, how I ended up writing this post.  I need to Develop Good Habits that last and will better impact my success. Even if I am only doing it for the joy of doing it and not to “pay the bills”.

• Discover your “why.” “Why” is the thing that’s going to push you to say “no” to yourself when temptation comes knocking. Why do you want to do this? What’s the payoff? Whatever it is, write it down. It’s important to remind yourself why this is so important to you—finding your “why” is so powerful because it provides you with a great excuse to keep going when things get tough. That also means that you need to have a “why” that’s very strong, very personal, something that’s going to motivate you.

Start Small and Build

Begin small and then build on top of your habits. Many people make the mistake of uprooting their routines completely and piling one new habit on top of another until they can no longer keep track. That approach is the best way to burn yourself out. Instead, focus on taking small steps that will get you closer to your goals. Once you have a routine in place, you’re ready to add on the new ones you know for sure are going to make positive changes in your life.

Set Reminders

Set reminders. It’s always important to set some reminders on your path to habit building. A few ways to set reminders include writing them down on sticky notes or placing them in your planner, posted somewhere you’ll see them each day. You can also download an app to remind yourself throughout the day. Alarms are also great. You could set alarms that go off at set times throughout the day.

Reward Yourself!

Give yourself rewards along the way. Everyone needs encouragement sometimes, so don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t start consistently practicing what you preach right away. Pat yourself on the back for each small step you take toward your goal. For example, you could reward yourself at the end of each week or month you stick to your fitness goals. You don’t have to go crazy with your rewards. Choose something within a reasonable reach, but still something that will motivate you.

And Always Remember…

It takes 21 days to create a habit.  And 90 days to create a lifestyle change! Be mindful of this and stay on course!  Consistency is key with any new habit!

Conclusion

Developing healthy habits takes a lot of work, but it’s well worth it because it can change your life. If you’re not sure where to start, focus on one thing at a time. Let that become a habit, and then add other things in as you go along.  Developing Good Habits may not be easy, but it is well worth the effort!

 

 

Products I love!

Erin Condren does a wonderful job with creating planners that are useful and easy to use!  I love them!  Purchase HERE from AMAZON! This is a great way to start “scheduling” some kindness towards yourself every day!

Another favorite is my gratitude journal!  Write in it everyday and it will instantly make your day better!  Purchase HERE from AMAZON!

More importantly, thank you for spending your time here at Colorado Kelly!  I love having you here and appreciate everyone that comes to visit and look forward to having you come back soon!

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*This post may contain affiliate links! That means; I may get a commission at no additional cost to you!  I do not recommend any products/services that I don’t use and love myself!