Change Your Habits, Change Your Life

How is this year going to be different from 2018? What are your plans, dreams, and goals? Did you make the progress last year that you thought you would? I hope so. But, if not, maybe it isn’t your goal setting technique, you might need to take a look at your habits.

Your habits can shape your life. They are much more powerful than we realize. If you have good habits that are automatic, then you may not even notice what power they can have. The same goes for bad habits and how detrementaI they are to us. Our good habits can be our biggest advantages. Our bad habits can be the most common way we sabotage ourselves.

Think about the goals you have set for yourself. In which ways would you like January 2020 to be different for you? What areas need big improvements? Once you set those ideas, goals and plans, then ask yourself what you need to do to be successful? Figure out what habits you need to start, stop or continue. 

Make a list of all of your habits that have held you back–for example:
Hitting the snooze button
Smoking
Gossiping
Procrastinating
Eating too much
Showing up late
Being lazy
Watching too much TV
Blowing things off
Drinking too much
Being unreliable
Spending too much
etc…

Any one of these bad habits can affect the outcome of a big goal you might have. For instance, if you have a bad habit of showing up late, you might risk not getting promoted, upsetting friends, having to cut your exercise time short, or damaging your professional image. I have had to combat this one myself! I try to be early, and look to my husband as a great example. Now, pick just one of your bad habits to work on eliminating. 

Next, make a list of everything in your life that would improve if you just got rid of one bad habit. Imagine how you would feel if all of these things in your life improved. 

Now make a list of all of your good habits–for example:
Being committed
Getting out of your comfort zone regularly
Eating a healthy diet
Constantly learning
Exercising regularly
Saving/Investing your money
Getting things done on time
Being organized
Meditating 
Showing gratitude
Acting responsibly
Enjoying hobbies
etc…

Now, up your game, and get even better at incorporating those habits into your daily life. Once you get rid of your worst bad habit, and concentrate on getting better at your best habits, you will start reaching your biggest goals. You might have to focus on getting rid of two or more of your bad habits. You will figure that out once you have given it some real honest thought. Once you do this, you will see the real power habits can have in helping you create a life you love.

“Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do.” ―Sean Covey