3 tips for forming good habits
Habits are the framework of success. I read a dozen books on habits and I’ll link up a few of my favorites, but I want to offer you some of the most practical tips for adding a new habit to your life. Typically, developing new habits takes a tremendous amount of will power, consistency and discipline and I don’t disagree with that. And actually, to be frank, I am not really about taking the short cut to success. However, adopting new health habits can be easier with a few of these tips.
1. Anchor a new habit with an existing habit. Some of the habits are so ingrained in us that we absolutely cannot imagine not doing them. A great example is brushing our teeth! Have you ever started to drift off to sleep and then suddenly jolt awake because you forgot to brush your teeth and something felt “wrong?” This has happened to me and it’s because my nighttime routine is so ingrained in me, that my body can’t function well without it. So I anchor new habits with strong existing habits. Because you will brush your teeth daily, set yourself up for success and place the new habit in your bathroom by your toothbrush. It could be remembering to take your probiotics or putting 2 drops of frankincense under your tongue. Maybe it’s doing 10 pushups and you drop and pump it out before you brush your teeth. No matter what, it’s a trigger to do the new thing - until it becomes so ingrained in you that you no longer have to think about it.
2. Eliminate distractions and replace them with helpful reminders. Most of us work and likely put in set hours - even if we are entrepreneurs. I love getting into flow in my work and spending a few uninterrupted hours with no distractions. However, interruptions like setting a timer or checking my phone can pull me out of my focus immediately, and before I know it I am scrolling for 10 mins and forgot what I was supposed to be doing. When I need to be in flow, which is daily, I turn off all of my notifications on my phone and I turn off my ringer. Instead of using a timer, in order to time my work, I fill my diffuser with oils that inspire, help me create and focus and set the timer for 2 hours. When my diffuser goes off, I stop. This is a great time to get up, refill my water, check email, etc. You can repeat this all day in 1-2 hour increments with specific oils. Smell is so powerful for creating new nuero-pathways in the brain - try sticking with the same oil each day at certain times. Here is an example:
5-7 am: diffuse 2 drops each of wild orange and peppermint
8-10 am: diffuse 4-5 drops of motivate
10- noon: diffuse 2 drops each of anchor + align
You can change it up all day if you want - but your body and mind will get used to the 2 hour flow and the specific oils you use to stimulate the habit of work flow. This is key for productivity.
3. My final tip is accountability. I always tell other people what I am doing so that I hold myself accountable to the activity. For example, if my goal is to no eat sugar for a month, I will tell a few friends about it and text them regularly - usually daily! If you text someone your goal in the morning and follow up in the evening with confirmation, you will definitely find yourself successful. This is how it looks. I text a friend in the am:
No sugar or white flour today.
Write 2 Blog Posts
Spend 30 mins in Nature
Order Christmas Cards
In the evening right before bed I text back with a check by everything I accomplished. This list guides me through the day and keeps me aligned with my integrity - am I doing what I said I was going to do? Did I finish my list? Did I stay true to my intentions. This factor is the one most people don’t want to do but is key for staying on track with priorities and new habits.
If you want to dive into more about habits few of my favorite books are:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Brandon Berchard
Will Power Doesn’t Work by Benjamin Hardy
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
How to break up with your phone: Catherine price.