Once in a while, even the best of us get waylaid by life’s pressures. Despite being well-meaning, we end up doing what we do not want to do. Paul in the good book says, ‘For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing’. We also use this saying a lot; ‘To err is human..." A proverb originated from Alexander Pope's Essay on Criticism (1711). This said; we are all prone to doing things we know better not to do.
It’s easy to fall back into old habits even when we fully know they’re not serving us. Our brains are wired for efficiency. Repeated actions over time become ingrained as habits, requiring minimal conscious effort. That’s why old habits become difficult to break as they’re deeply ingrained in our fiber and easy to fall back into when faced with any difficulty.
Think back to the beginning of the year, and assess the habits you promised yourself, either this year, last year or the year before that. Are there new things you wanted to achieve? Are you still on your way to achieving them or did you fall back and never got up? I trust the majority of us went back into our old but comfortable habits that we were used to.
Every choice you make, every action you take, has the potential to become a habit. From the morning rituals that jumpstart your day to the evening activities that wind you down, your habits define your daily routines. These routines, in turn, shape your overall lifestyle and ultimately, your success in achieving your goals.
Sometimes it seems as though some people effortlessly achieve their goals, while others struggle to maintain or even make any progress. The difference often lies in the unseen world of habits – the small, seemingly insignificant actions we repeat daily. These habits, both positive and negative, are the building blocks of our lives, shaping who we are and ultimately, where we're headed. Achievers started by insisting on good habits, until it became effortless. It never came without conscious effort.
It’s only when we get up each time we fall back, that we’re able to build the muscle of resilience and get back on track. So how about you re-look at the habits you’ve been trying to form and pick one small one that you can manage?
Start by understanding your current habits.
- Track Your Routine: For a week, record your daily activities, from the moment you wake up to the time you go to sleep. Be honest and objective.
- Analyze Your Habits: Look for patterns in your behavior. What habits empower you, and which ones hold you back?
- Identify Triggers: What situations or emotions trigger your negative habits? Understanding these triggers is key to breaking them.
Building a Routine for Success:
Once you understand your current habits, you can start crafting a routine that supports your goals. What can you start doing now, that’s not too significant to completely change your routine, but is motivational enough for you to put in effort to do it?
Put in place a trigger mechanism that would trigger you to indulge in the new habit – for instance, if you want to start journaling before bed, put a pen and notebook next to your bed and each time you get into bed, pick the notebook and jot something down. Habits that are triggered by already existing habits make it easier to remember.
Celebrate small wins. Don’t wait until you lose 5kgs to appreciate the win. Something as simple as celebrating the fact that you’ve kept to your diet for a week or month is good enough for a start. Be gracious with your efforts, then build on them.
Consistency is key. This cannot be over-emphasized. Our ‘lazy’ brains will happily give an excuse on why something cannot be done. Skip the excuses and do it despite the feelings. Do it when you don’t feel like it, do it when it seems like it’s going nowhere. That’s the only way the habit will stick.
Keep yourself accountable, either to a colleague or someone with similar goals. When you ‘owe’ someone an explanation, you tend to be more diligent than when you owe only yourself. Remember, building a success-oriented routine is a journey, not a destination. There will be setbacks and days when motivation wanes. The key is to be kind to yourself, identify the triggers of your negative habits, and recommit to your positive routines. Keep trying!
