As we embark on a new year, many of us turn our attention to new resolutions and meaningful goals. One crucial aspect that often gets overlooked is the importance of shedding detrimental habits that no longer serve us.
Our habits shape our thoughts, decisions, and actions. Research suggests that changing a behavior takes time and effort – often around 21 days. It requires a strategy of persistence and determination.
In our first blog of the year, we share six valuable tips to help diminish unhealthy habits and create space for positive ones to flow.
1. Make It Known
Start by informing your loved ones of the habits you wish to change and ask them to hold you accountable. This will make them ambassadors to your plan, encouraging and supporting you on your path. Make sure to communicate with those who have your best interest at heart.
2. Remove Triggers
Analyze your personal habits to find out their root cause. Perhaps the environment you find yourself in triggers a certain behavior. Stressful circumstances can certainly play a role. You might find your bad habits creep in when you are around certain people, perhaps these individuals (for whatever reason) influence your habit more than you had realized. Identifying triggers can pave the way to eliminating the bad habit.
3. Piecemeal Tackle
Tackle one unwanted habit at a time, start with smaller habits that are easier to change. Early successes will motivate you to continue the momentum.
4. Plan SMARTLY
Goals are no good unless they are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound). Make every goal you put for yourself a SMART one, and document your plan including appropriate behaviors to demonstrate. It is not enough to keep it in your head; having a visual of the goal and relevant behaviors will keep you on track.
5. Be Forgiving
Forgive yourself if you slip-up. It is OK if you take one step backwards as long as your next step(s) are forward. The point is to stay focused and adamant to what you are trying to do.
6. Measure & Celebrate
Measure impact of your progress, no matter how small, and celebrate successes. This will put you in a good frame of mind to continue in your journey.
Remember, by controlling our habits, we take control of our lives. For more material on behavioral change, we recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear.
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