6 days into the new year, have you set your New Year’s resolution? Or you have decided not to do it this year, because it never works.
Most resolutions written in December will be down the drain by February of the following year. People who wrote them have either given up or given in to their own old ways of doing things.
You know this: motivation never works. Your one good idea does not work. Willpower cannot make it happen. What works is daily, consistent, and purposeful habits that bring you closer to your goals. Baby steps each day compound and bring you the results.
What is even better? Having good habits reduces the need to think and analyze. You no longer need to decide what to do. You have built it into your daily routine. You save time in planning.
Here are 3 keys to creating powerful habits for permanent behavioral change.
1) reward yourself – make it satisfying to complete what you wish to do. Give yourself something. No doubt your body is already creating Dopamine upon completing the task. You can make it better. Be it a simple coffee treat, a small gift, or just a deserved break to watch a video. For it to work, choose rewards that are immediate and attractive.
2) Make execution easy for yourself, especially the first baby step at the start. You don’t need to run 10 kilometres weekly, just start with 1. You don’t have to write the entire email; just write the subject and save the draft.
Easy also means removing any obstacles that prevent you from doing what you plan to do. Ensure that what you need for the task is easily accessible. If you want to exercise more, keep your gear and equipment in a convenient location and sign up with a gym near your home or office.
3) Create highly visible reminders for yourself. Out of sight means out of mind. Place your running shoes in a conspicuous place if you want to make running a habit. Use sticky notes to remind yourself and put them in places where you cannot miss them. Even better, get a buddy who shares the same goal with you to remind each other.
This year, instead of focusing on getting what you wish for, develop good micro-habits. Trust the process, and soon you will be achieving your dreams.
Authored by Tan Teck Beng without the assistance of AI.