SFH #206: How to Make Habits Stick
Make a plan and follow your interests 🤔
Waking up this morning I had so many thoughts racing through my head as if I were front and center as an auctioneer quickly ran through one of a kind collectibles for all the frenzied bidders on hand.
Do I hear brush your teeth, can I get a brush your teeth for a dollar bid? How about remember to meditate for 2 dollars? A remember to meditate before the boys wake up is hot on the block for just 2 dollars. And remember to make your tea and AG1 this morning? That’s right two green drinks for the price of one. Would you give a mere 5 dollars for these delicious beverages good sir? Finally, we have ‘don’t forget to pee’. Don’t forget to pee for a single dollar, going once, going twice, sold to the man that needs to empty his bladder before anything else.
Besides the bodily function habits that are engrained in our day to day. There are so many choices for us to turn something desirable (or not so desirable) into habit.
And what I really want to talk about today is how do you turn different habits into a lifestyle change. No surprise that consistency is foundational until it becomes automatic and effortless.1 I’ve found that following the advice of making small, manageable changes to be more effective than taking on drastic measures. For example drinking a green tea and a lemon water is easier for me to maintain and cement long-term success vs aiming for half my weight in ounces of water/tea per day. There are a few habits like this I’ve tweaked over time to make them more manageable and sustainable for my long term health. Even my fitness and strength routine has adapted over time to match my needs, interests, and overall goals.
Research shows that habits can take anywhere from 18 days to 254 days to form, with an average of about 66 days.2 Additionally, I can attest through trial and error that setting specific plans, focusing on activities of interest, and providing yourself immediate rewards can help maintain motivation and increase the likelihood of habit formation.
Remember, habits are a process that requires commitment and patience; embracing this journey rather than fixating on a specific timeline is an essential piece for lasting lifestyle changes.3
If you are looking for help taking on a new lifestyle change or implementing a new habit or two, reply to this post and I’d be happy to help guide you through my systems and process. In addition, ask me about my holistic habit group if you are interested in something more communal and peer supported.