To change an old habit or form a new habit, it takes anywhere from 21 to 66 days. This of course, will depend on the individual and the habit or change being implemented. As change or growth is an ongoing process, I have chosen 30 days (or 1 month increments) to incorporate these new habits. This time-frame is not cast in stone. If it takes two months or more, or even less, due to various circumstances, so be it. There is no pressure 'to get it done' in any specific number of days. Stay focussed on the goal at hand and not the time.
If you could pick just one or two habits to create in the next few months — habits that will have the most impact on your life — what would they be?
I have shared some life changing habits below for consideration to develop and transform your life. If you have others that you would prefer to work on, please feel free to make those changes. I want to make this as stress-free as possible. Following one's own goals are much more motivating and productive then following a list that is of no interest or value to you.
I will set up a 'journal' section online if anyone wishes to share their progress or road-blocks publicaly, either for motivation or support.
How to Develop the Habits
• Do a 30-day challenge, focusing on just ONE habit.
• Write it out on paper, along with your motivations, obstacles, and strategies for overcoming them.
• Commit fully.
• Log your progress.
• Remain accountable — journal on your progress each day.
• Have support for when you falter — either in real life or online.
—>For anyone wishing to journal their progress and support online, please click on the following link: Journal - Progress and Support
• Reward every little success.
• If you fail, figure out what went wrong, plan for it, and try again.
Six Life Changing Habits
1. POSITIVE THINKING: Positive thinking is the keystone habit that will help you form the other important habits. Positive thinking by itself won’t lead to success, but it certainly goes a long way to motivate you to do the other things required.
When I allowed myself to think negative thoughts, I would end up failing. But when I learned how to quash negative thoughts and think positive ones instead, I succeeded. Practicing this over and over, until I was able to form just about any habit I needed, has been invaluable.
Focus on this habit first, and you will have a much easier time with any of the others. Start by becoming more aware of your negative self-talk — journal throughout the day, making an entry each time you notice a negative thought. Soon you will recognize them, and be able to quash them.
2. FOCUS ON ONE GOAL: Focus on one task, one habit and one goal at a time. While it might seem difficult, focusing on one goal at a time is the most powerful way of achieving your goals. When you try to take on many goals at once, you are spreading your focus and energy too thin — the two critical components for achieving a goal.
If you have many goals you want to accomplish, pick one to focus on first. If it’s a long-term goal, break it into a mini-goal you can accomplish this month. Pick an action you can do today. Keep doing this until the goal is accomplished — complete an action every day, pick the next mini-goal to work on, then when your One Goal is completed, focus on the next goal.
Some goals are ongoing ones — like blogging every day, or exercising every day. In those cases, turn them into habits — focus exclusively on turning the goal into a habit, until the habit is ingrained. Then focus on the next goal.
3. ELIMINATE THE NON-ESSENTIAL: First, identify the essential — the things in your life that are most important to you, that you love the most. Then eliminate everything else. This simplifies things and leaves you with the space to focus on the essential. This process works with anything — with your life in general, with work projects and tasks, with emails and other communication.
This will change your life because it will help you to simplify, to focus on what is important, and to build the life you want.
4. DAILY ROUTINE: It’s so simple, but creating a daily routine for yourself can make a big difference in your life. The best routines, I’ve found, come at the start and end of the day — both your workday and your day in general. That means, develop a routine for when you awake, for when you first start working, for when you finish your workday, and for the end of your evening.
This will help you get a great start to your day, and finish your day by preparing for the next day. It will help you firmly root the productive habits you want to firm in your everyday life. It will help you focus on what’s important, not just what comes up. It will help you make sure you get done all the things you really want to make sure gets done every day, and that can mean a lot.
5. SINGLE-TASKING: The opposite of multi-tasking — This is life-changing! A couple powerful reasons:
• You’ll be more effective with your tasks and get more done. It’s hard to achieve important things if you are constantly switching tasks and distracted by other “urgent” things.
• You will be less stressed overall and (in my experience) happier throughout your day.
6. KINDNESS: Kindness is a habit that can be cultivated. Focus on it every day for a month and you will see profound changes in your life. You will feel better about yourself as a person. You will see people react to you differently and treat you better, over the long run. It’s Law of Attraction … what you give, you receive.
First, make it a goal to do something kind for someone each day. At the beginning of the day, figure out what that kind act will be and then do it during the day. Second, each time you interact with someone, try to be kind, be friendly, be compassionate. Third, try to go beyond small kindnesses to larger acts of compassion, volunteering to help those in need and taking the initiative to relieve suffering.
7. EXERCISE: (Feel free to change or add additional goals, such as quitting smoking, eating healthier, meditation, etc.) Sure, exercise is healthy and all that, but how exactly is it life changing?
• It makes you feel better about yourself, and more confident. That leads to better success with other positive changes.
• It reinforces the positive thinking habit — you need to think positive in order to sustain exercise.
• It relieves stress and gives you time to think — this leads to better mental well-being in your life overall.
• It helps with creativity.
SEE RELATED POSTS:
From Failure to Success
Detox Your Mind
Mindfulness Practice
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Journal - Progress and Support
SEE RELATED POSTS:
From Failure to Success
Detox Your Mind
Mindfulness Practice
Rewrite Your Story
Journal - Progress and Support
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