What do Olympic athletes, CEOs and successful people have in common? It has nothing to do with nature, or with how lucky they’ve been. In fact, according to most social scientists, success is very closely related to habits.
You’ve probably heard the saying that habits are key to success. Well, it’s true. Whether you’re trying to build muscle, make more money, have better relationships or simply enjoy life more, being consistent with your habits is essential.
But, why are habits so important? Basically, they help us do what we don’t want to do. They automate our lives and allow us to accomplish goals without having to think about them constantly. And best of all, habits can be created relatively easily if you know how.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about why habits are so important and give some tips on how to start building the habits that will take your life to the next level. Keep reading!
What habits are and why they’re important
In the most simple way, a habit is basically a behavior that’s done regularly, often without thinking. As you can imagine, habits can be good or bad, but most of the time when we’re talking about them, we’re talking about positive habits.
These are habits that help us achieve our goals and make our lives better. They automate our lives and allow us to accomplish more with less effort. For example, let’s say you want to start working out more. You know that in order to see results, you need to be consistent with your workouts and stick to a schedule.
But, going to the gym every day can be tough (especially if you don’t like working out). This is where habits come in: by making a habit of going to the gym, you can take the thinking and decision-making out of it. You just show up and do your workout because it’s become a part of your routine.
The same goes for any other goal you might have, from eating healthy to making more money. Habits allow you to achieve your goals without having to think about them constantly. And that’s why they’re so important.
So now that we know why habits are important, let’s talk about how to start building them.
How to create habits that will help you achieve success
Creating habits isn’t as difficult as you might think. In fact, there’s a simple process that you can follow to make sure that your habits stick.
Let’s take a look at it!
1- Pick a goal
The first step you need to take in order to create a good habit is to pick a goal that you want to achieve. It can be anything from working out more to eating healthy or making more money. This will help you stay motivated and focused on your habits.
Keep in mind that your goal should be specific, realistic and achievable. For example, «I want to work out more» is a good goal, but «I want to lose 20 pounds» is even better.
And by the way, don’t make your goals too difficult or you’ll quickly get discouraged and give up. Start small and build from there!
And finally, make sure that your goal is something that you’re passionate about. The more motivation you can gain from it, the easier it will be to stick to your habits.
2- Start small
Once you’ve picked your goal, it’s important to start small. Thing is, if you try to do too much at once, you’re likely to get overwhelmed and give up. For example, if your goal is to work out more, start by going to the gym three times per week for 30 minutes each time.
Why is this important? Because habits need to be built slowly in order for them to stick. And starting small will help you do just that.
Remember, it’s all about being consistent. If you can stick to your habits and make them a part of your routine, you’ll eventually achieve your goals.
And speaking of routines…
3- Creating a daily routine
One of the best ways to make sure that your habits stick is to create a daily routine and include your habits in it. A daily routine will help you stay on track because it gives structure to your day.
For example, let’s say you want to start working out in the morning. You can create a morning routine that looks something like this:
– Wake up at six am
– Drink a glass of water
– Eat breakfast
– Go to the gym
– Take a shower
– Get dressed
– Start your day
By following this routine every day, going to the gym will become a habit. And before you know it, it will be something that you do without thinking.
Of course, your routine doesn’t have to be this long or detailed. It can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. The important thing is that it works for you and helps you stick to your habits.
4- Be consistent
The last and most important step is to be consistent with your habits. This means that you need to do them even when you don’t feel like it.
For example, there will be days when you don’t feel like going to the gym or eating healthy. But if you’re consistent with your habits, you’ll do it anyway because it’s become a part of who you are.
And that’s how habits are formed: by being consistent and doing them even when we don’t feel like it.
Of course, this isn’t always easy. But if you can stick to your habits, eventually they will become second nature and you won’t even have to think about them anymore.
Last tip: How to overcome obstacles when creating habits
One of the biggest obstacles you’ll face when trying to create habits is yourself. More specifically, your mind.
You see, our minds are very good at coming up with excuses and reasons why we shouldn’t do something. For example, let’s say you want to start working out but your mind tells you that you’re too tired or that you don’t have time.
In moments like these, it’s important to remember why you’re doing this in the first place. What are your goals? What are the benefits of working out? Keep these things in mind and they will help you overcome any obstacle that comes your way.
Another thing you can do is make a list of all the reasons why you want to create this habit. This will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.
And lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Everyone makes mistakes and it’s normal to have setbacks when trying to create habits. Just get back up and keep going!
We hope these tips were helpful and that you’ll use them to create habits that will change your life for the better. Just remember: start small, be consistent and don’t give up! You can do this!