How to Make Habits Stick in 3 Simple Steps
Taking up a new habit is one thing. Making it stick is another.
Feeling great about picking up a new habit or pursuit, but not sure how you’ll maintain it?
Or struggling to get going at all with setting new life-enhancing habits?
Don’t just throw anything at the wall and see what sticks.
You’ll need to take conscious steps to sustain your newly-formed habits over time. Which will help you change and improve your life for the better.
Let’s look at 3 ways to help you do just that. Use these tips to reinforce and build on your own habits.
#1. Be Clear On The ‘Why’
Now, this is where you need to be crystal-clear.
Ask yourself this simple yet powerful question: Why am I doing this?
More specifically…
- What is driving your desire to pick up this new habit?
- What do you want to achieve out of it?
- How will it help you become the better version of yourself — so you can be of more value to others?
A clear, compelling why is half the battle. Always start with why whatever it is you are getting into in business and in life. New habits included.
Once you have a compelling reason, you will develop a stronger sense of mission. Purpose. That “fire in the belly” type feeling. From there on, you are unstoppable.
Knowing the why behind wanting to start a new habit is a solid foundation.
Now, let’s build on it…
#2. Link Your Habits To a Bigger Purpose
Having a purpose beyond yourself will further solidify your new habits. And make sure you stick to them — as you’ll have much more of an incentive to keep going with them.
How can you relate a particular habit to a wider purpose?
Start by thinking about how this habit could make you a better human being, overall. Is it getting you closer to the person you want to be?
The better you get at what you do, and the more useful skills you develop — the more you can add value to the world.
Once you connect those dots, following through on your habit will be a no brainer. You can clearly see how doing it will be beneficial to not just yourself, but others — your partner, your children, your co-workers…and even beyond.
Now, you only need to build momentum and turn into a habit-forming machine!
To do so…
#3 Stack ‘Em Up
Habit stacking is a powerful way to build on top of each habit. Each strengthens the other, making it easier to stick with them over time.
A simple way to do this, is to identify a current habit you have already embedded in your life. And to tag another on top of it.
So, for example, you may start a new habit of waking up 30mns earlier in the morning to get more out of your day. Once you have established this habit, you then decide to go for a jog.
Once you have that one nailed down, you add a 30mn journalling practice on top of it. So, the initial habit of waking up earlier serves as the foundation for building other, life-changing habits on top of it.
Each reinforcing the other.
Apply this principle, and soon enough you’ll be standing on a heap of little habits which, taken altogether, will have a transformational impact on your life.
And, most importantly, on your ability to be a force for good in the world!
I hope this helps you become more successful as a result, in whatever it is you are trying to achieve.