Successful Practices in Creating Good Habits
While over a hundred years have passed since Mann wrote this, the phrase still rings true today. Most bloggers who write about creating good habits agree that a successful approach includes taking small, daily steps in the right direction. They also agree that there are three other main ingredients integral to forming good habits:
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1. Be specific about the goal.
Rather than saying “I’m going to start keeping a journal,” try, “I will write in my journal for 10 minutes each night, before going to sleep.” Even better, do it at the same time every day.
2. Use the 30-day approach.
The consensus is that we need 30 days to give any new habit enough time to settle in and take root. Whether one acts every day or takes occasional time off, that month-long commitment appears to be vital to ingrain a habit.
3. Lodge the commitment outside of yourself.
By telling a close friend of your intention or joining a web community of like-minded people, you can strengthen the chances of success.
In addition, several bloggers offer tips on what has worked for them. Steve Pavlina of “Personal Development for Smart People” suggests eliminating any potential interference. For example, if the desired habit is to eat fruit each day, plan the shopping in advance and make sure to stock up.
Laurel Vespi of Stone Circle Coaching finds it helps to create a visual reminder of our goals. Someone trying to create a habit of living more frugally may put travel brochures around as a reminder of the exciting vacation they will one day be able to afford.
Cristina of the “The Benefits of Positive Thinking” blog recommends using SMART – a mnemonic tool used in project management, whose letters commonly mean: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound – to define any new habits.
And Leo Babauta of “Zen Habits” offers six useful tips on how to get back to your good habits after they have been disrupted by major life changes.
Clearly, good habits are created not by accident, but by taking the time to decide on clear, realistic goals, creating a plan and then following through with commitment. The best part is that once a habit is created, you no longer have to work for it – it starts working for you.
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