Have you ever wondered why it seems easy for some people to workout regularly but so hard for you?
The answer has to do with your habits. They can easily hold you back or sling shot you forward. Either way they are a very big part of your life.
If you have ever felt like you’re on autopilot, going through the motions without even thinking? Well, that’s the power of habits! They’re so powerful that before you know it, you’re doing them without even realizing it. Habits can make or break you, but don’t worry, I’ve got some tips to help you take control.
Step 1- Identifying your habits
Let’s start by identifying your habits. What are the ones that serve you and move you towards your goals, and which ones do not serve you and keep you from your goals? Once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to move on to step two.
Step 2- The triggers
Every habit has a trigger, something that sets it in motion. Finding the triggers to your habits is the key to overcoming them. For example, let’s say your habit is stopping for ice cream on your way home from work. The trigger could be something as simple as driving home from work. But we don’t want to stop there, we want to review as many details about “going home” as we can. Maybe it starts with looking at your watch or grabbing your coat. If we don’t identify when our brains begin to go into autopilot, we won’t be able to break the habit.
Step 3- Take action
Once you’ve identified a habit you’d like to work on and its trigger, it’s time to take action. Put an alternate plan in place, something that will stop you from falling into your old habits. Maybe it’s taking a different route home that passes by a gym. But plan for the unexpected too. What if you’re hungry when you leave work? What if there’s a detour on the new way home? What if you need to stop and get gas? Have as many scenarios planned out as possible so your brain doesn’t trick you into following through with the old habit.
Conclusion
My suggestion to you is to take it one habit at a time. Start with an easier one and practice. Make sure the new habit is well-established before moving on to the next one. As you get better at changing these habits, you can move on to more challenging ones. Be patient and take your time, and never underestimate the power of habit. Before you know it, you’ll be a completely changed person doing a lot more of what you “should” be doing and a lot less of what you “shouldn’t”.