“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
- Aristotle, an Ancient Greek philosopher
Habits shape our lives far more than we probably realize. According to author Charles Duhigg in the book, “The Power of Habit,” habits are an important force that our brains cling to because they create neurological cravings where a certain behavior is rewarded with pleasure.
In fact, most of our everyday lives consist of “bundles of habits.” From drinking coffee in the morning to brushing our teeth before going to bed, any behavior or action we engage in REGULARLY counts as a habit.
While some of these regular activities promote wellness, others might have more of an unwanted impact on our daily lives. The good news?
It’s possible to change old, bad habits! We just need to have the discipline and determination to break free from them and replace them with new ones that better support our well-being.
Throughout 30+ years in my career, I’ve had my fair share of forming good habits and eliminating bad ones—whether they’re related to my health, work, relationships, etc.
At first, these habits didn’t matter much to me because I didn’t think they would have drastic impacts on my life.
As I grew and matured further, I realized I shouldn’t take my life for granted. I understood that whatever I do in the present would influence who I would become in the future.
Since then, my life has never been the same. I became more intentional in the things I do, always aiming for excellence and making sure I’m on the right track.
That was also when I made a commitment to form only good habits and let go of those that are no longer helpful for me in the long run. I adopted the mindset that every day is precious, and I ensured my everyday life would only consist of activities and behaviors that would help me achieve success in the future.
So… why are habits important for success?
Doing something repeatedly makes us more likely to stick with that certain activity, since our behaviors become automatic and effortless. Once a particular habit benefits us, the rewards we reap can also motivate us to keep doing that task.
As Stephani Jahn, a Florida-based licensed mental health counselor, said:
“Creating a new habit can be a source of confidence because you realize you have the power to improve your life, which can help bring you closer to being who you want to be.”
Additionally, forming good habits can be empowering and give us a greater sense of responsibility and achievement.
For example: You’re writing a novel.
By making a habit of writing a few pages each day or having a designated time to write daily, you make your goal of completing the novel less overwhelming.
… and as you continue to make progress each day, you’ll likely feel motivated to stick to that habit and keep working towards your goal.
See? In this case, the positive habit of writing a few pages each day not only boosts your self-esteem. It also reduces your stress and anxiety by offering a degree of structure and predictability to your everyday life.
However, this doesn’t mean you don’t have to be flexible. Since unexpected events and situations can occur from time to time, it’s important that you’re also prepared to act on these instances and leave room for some changes.
Here are some quick tips to form good habits and actually stick to them:
For example: You can start a mini habit of making your bed every morning and scheduling specific to-do’s daily versus forcing yourself to clean your entire house every day.
Choose only those that make a positive difference in your life, not those that aren’t actually beneficial for you in the long run.
For example: If you’re starting a habit of a healthier lifestyle, say something positive to yourself after making healthy choices.
You made a healthy dinner? Awesome!
You accomplished 3 workouts for the week? Great job!
You took your time in the morning to meditate? Amazing!
Always acknowledge these small wins. They add up to the entire picture of forming a good habit.
Personally, I consider my wife as one of my accountability partners. Since we live under the same roof and she knows a lot about me, I let her tell me if a particular habit is not working for my good or if there’s something I need to change to improve my daily activities.
-
Start small. A habit doesn’t have to be big in size to be effective or successful. Consistency is more important than the size of the task at hand.
-
Be intentional. In creating good habits, it’s important to wisely choose which ones you’ll build. Always remember that your resources are limited, so be careful in selecting the habits you’ll put your energy into.
-
Celebrate progress. Having a sense of accomplishment is important to sustain your motivation. By celebrating tiny wins, your body will create a feel-good response towards your healthy habits.
-
Have an accountability partner. Accountability can go a long way and allow you to create stronger habits when you feel supported. So, find a partner to hold you accountable for your daily activities!
Harnessing the power of habits is a great way to pursue success in our lives. Committing to these regular activities will enable us to free up our brain’s capacity to:
- Make better decisions
- Do our best when we’re in a prime mental state
- Stay on track even when things get difficult
So, if you want to form “habits for success,” start NOW! These good habits will play an important role in multiple aspects of your life, such as mental and physical health, productivity, relationships, and self-esteem.
Advance happy weekend and happy new year, everyone!
For a daily version of this newsletter, please subscribe here.
Follow us on LinkedIn.
|
