"We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness then, is not an act, but a habit."
-Aristotle
Creating and sticking to new habits is often easier said than done. We’ve all seen how busy a gym is in January and then see attendance slowly start to dissipate as the months go on.
While developing new habits can be difficult, it’s also critical for becoming successful.
Think about it. Habits shape our actions. They help us form the work ethic we need to achieve our goals.
Habits also make actions more automated and mindless so that you can free up your mental space to dedicate to more difficult decisions and tasks. This is especially important for solopreneurs!
You’re not always going to bring your “A-game.” When the motivation isn’t there, habits can make up for it, because those actions can perform on autopilot, whether your brain is focused or not.
Keep in mind, you can develop bad habits just as easily as you can develop positive ones. To ensure you’re on track for the latter, follow the steps below.
Visualize the End Result
What will that end result feel like? How happy will you be to achieve it? What benefits will you experience once you’ve actually developed a positive habit? Keep these in mind as you begin your journey to help keep you on track.
Focus On One New Habit at a Time
One of the reasons so many people don’t stick with their New Year’s resolutions is that they’ve added too many to their list. In order to properly set a new habit, it should be your primary focus. Once it’s mastered you can consider moving on to the next step. Do it any sooner and it just becomes a distraction.
Give It A Month
Some experts say it takes 21 days to build a new habit, others say longer, but the moral of the story is that building a habit takes time. Don’t expect it to feel like second nature overnight.
Don’t Keep It to Yourself
Making others aware of the habit you’re trying to create for yourself will help you stay accountable and will create a support group to help turn your habit into a dependable routine. This is especially important for one-person business owners who often try to do everything on their own.
Be Consistent
The more regularly you practice your habit, the more natural it will become. Make it a point to practice your habit daily. Don’t try to double down. Don’t overwhelm yourself. The key to habit-building is to be patient.
Embrace Imperfection
You’re going to have bad days where you’ll want to give up on your new routine. You’ll even mess up while practicing the habit. Just remember it’s part of the journey. If perfectionism is your goal with it, you’ll likely fail.
Put a Pause on Negative Thoughts
They will creep in, and when they do, just address them, deal with them, and then overcome them. You are tougher and more resilient than those thoughts.
Try Again
You may fall off the horse, but as the saying goes, you just need to get back on. It is simply a bump in the road. Just keep trying and remember the hiccups will all be worth it if you are able to master your habit in the end.
Food for Thought: What’s one habit you’ve always wanted to build but have struggled to maintain in the past? With this new knowledge, would it be worth giving it another shot?