Is Your Habit System Broken?
Feb 02, 2024
How many of you have set goals for yourself, and you just can't get them to take flight in your life?
(Even though you can't see me over here, I want you to know that my hand is raised high to the sky over here. You are not alone!)
Here's the truth...
Goals and habits are absolutely related. A habit is an action you take that is part of your process in achieving a goal.
This is the primary thing you need to know about habits...
If you have bad habits, it's not you, it's your system. What do I mean by that?
Well, first and foremost, 100% of the credit here goes to James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. If you want to take a deeper dive into how to build better habits with the intent to help you achieve your goals and improve your life, I highly recommend it. This blog is simply to break down the general premise of the book. You must build a better system, so you can watch those goals of yours begin to take flight, instead of being stuck on the runway.
Here are 5 Tips To Building A Better System:
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Start with small changes. When starting to build a new habit, it is important to start with small, incremental changes. This approach makes it easier to build a habit and avoid burnout. For example, if you want to develop a habit of exercising regularly, start by doing just a few minutes of exercise every day, then gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable. Clear mentioned the two-minute rule - just start with a simple two-minute workout.
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Make habits a part of your routine. The more you can incorporate habits into your daily routine, the more likely they are to become automatic. For example, if you want to develop a habit of meditating, make it a part of your morning routine, right after you wake up. Over time, the habit will become automatic, and you will no longer have to think about it.
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Make habits enjoyable. In order to maintain a habit, it is important to make it enjoyable. If you do not enjoy the habit, you are less likely to stick with it. For example, if you want to develop a habit of reading, find a book that you enjoy, and make reading a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
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Create an environment that supports your habits. The environment in which you live can have a significant impact on your ability to create and maintain habits. If you want to develop a habit of eating healthy, remove junk food from your home and make healthy food easily accessible.
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Get accountability from others. Having someone to hold you accountable can be a great way to build discipline and maintain habits. Pick a friend or family member to be your accountability partner. You can schedule regular check-ins and get support during your journey.
When you reflect on your current system, what feedback would you give yourself? How are you doing on a scale of 1-10 to set yourself up for success by developing healthy habits?
As James Clear says...
“We do not rise to the level of our goals - we fall to the level of our systems.”
By starting with small changes, making habits a part of our routine, making habits enjoyable, creating an environment that supports our habits, and getting accountability from others, we can strengthen our system for developing positive habits that can last a lifetime. With the right approach and support, anyone can achieve their goals and improve their life through the power of positive habits.
And, of course, I would be remiss to say, but if you need an accountability partner, you know where to find me. I'll be right here cheering for you every step of the way!
In pursuit of positive habits,
Erin