Useful tips for making a good habit stick

According to a famous saying, your life is essentially the sum of your habits. This certainly rings true in today’s socially distanced world as we are forced to rely on ourselves to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Although there’s no shortcut to taking control of your habits, there are several steps that you can take to become more discipline and add some consistency into your daily routine.

Commit to a timeframe

In order for you to form a lasting habit, you will need keep it up for at least a month before it becomes second nature and automatic. The habit should also be something that you can commit to on a daily basis. For example, if you start a new habit of exercising regularly, you should try to block out time to go to the gym every day for thirty days before easing into a routine where you go a few times per week.

Start out small

Making a series of drastic changes overnight is not the most practical or effective way to change your habits, although you may be tempted to take on more than you can handle. A smarter approach would be to start out slow and gradually build on to the time and effort of your commitment.

For instance, if you want to learn a new skill or language, remember that overloading yourself with too much information may end up overwhelming and discouraging you from continuing. Should your new habit be getting fit in the gym, start out slow by lifting lighter weights and gradually build up to heavier ones when you are ready.

Break down big habits

If your habit requires a lot of time and effort, why not break it down into smaller increments to ensure that you are able to meet your daily goals? So, if your goal is to dedicate an hour each day towards learning a new language, break down the time commitment into 15 minutes four times throughout the day.

Set reminders

With any new routine, it can be easy to forget to execute your habit every day. Setting automatic reminders on your phone or taking up a new hobby or habit with someone else can help you stay on track. Sticking to a specific time of day is also helpful in keeping you focused and accountable.

Stick to one habit at a time

One of the most common reasons why people fail to remain consistent with a new habit is due to the fact that they try to make too many changes at once. This approach is a recipe for failure as it will require you to devote more time and effort than you’re able to offer. So, the smarter way to go about it is to focus on mastering one habit before deciding to start another.

By following the above-mentioned tips and examples, you will develop a more strategic and practical plan to create a new and positive habit, or even replace some bad habits in the process.

Don’t forget to share this article with someone who is thinking about getting rid of old habits and acquiring new ones.

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Joumana Saad is an American freelance journalist and media personality based in Dubai. She writes about financial, media and technology news and topics.

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