Let’s face it, there’s no shortage of advice on how to change habits, right? Do it first thing in the morning. Start small, reward yourself, make a list, do it for 30 days etc., etc.…
An endless quest really; trying to reinvent yourself for the umpteenth time! Why is it so hard to replace bad habits with good ones?
Most people decide to live healthier, especially during January. So, full speed ahead, and really, it all goes very well … up until February! Diets are compromised and more and more workouts are skipped. Hmm … lazy, not trying hard enough?
The truth is that most of us who are inconsistent or quit on our journey are NOT lazy, do NOT give up too easily, and DID try our best. Say what now?
If you examine the lives and habits of some of the most successful people – people like Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg, even Oprah Winfrey – you’ll notice that each of them defined what THEY wanted from life and were determined to make it happen in spite of challenges along the way. Actually it’s simple to change your habits – when you do what’s right for YOU. Other people’s habits often hide behind the surface of our consciousness, masquerading as our own and making us think that we are lacking in some way.
So, stop worrying about the things you “should” have as habits. Instead, tool your habits towards your goals and the things that motivate YOU. This shift in mind-set will allow you to focus on positive change by staying committed to the life you want.
The most important step in changing habits is understanding yourself. What appeals to you? For example the whole: “Wake up early and do it first thing” is great advice for morning people, but what about night people who are more productive and energetic later in the day? Night people often fail if they try to follow a particular habit early in the morning; not because they’re lazy or undisciplined, but because they’re night people.
So, don’t assume that if a strategy worked for Steve Jobs, it will work for you. There is no one-size-fits-all. Keeping your desk organized, wouldn’t necessarily make you as productive as your clutter-free colleague!
There are however a few universal strategies which could eliminate the “ah-screw-it” after only two weeks of trying: First of all, use the clean slate approach. Start fresh. If your aim is to lose weight, make a conscious decision to bring your own lunch to work, and keep healthy snacks close by.
Secondly, we are all sensitive to convenience, so make it easy to do it right and hard to do it wrong. Have fun with it. Be light about the process of change, and get creative about how you can enjoy cultivating the life you want. You might add a social element by having friends or family join in your new and better ways of living.
Thirdly, keep track of your progress, yes monitor yourself. How many times do you eat fast food in a month, or, commit to weigh yourself every day.
Did you know that we repeat 40% of our behaviour almost daily? So, by changing our habits, we could change our lives. So, start now, change the GPS of your life to take you in the right direction towards your unlimited abundance.
“We are what we repeatedly do, excellence, then, is a habit” – Aristotle.
Source: www.mindbodygreen.com, www.theguardian.com, www.huffingtonpost.com, www.lifehack.org, liveboldandbloom.com, tinybuddha.com, www.inc.com, books.google.co.za, 99u.com, buddhaimonia.com, www.quora.com, answers.yahoo.com, www.forbes.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
