Creating New Habits

I cannot count the amount of times I have wanted to start a new habit or create a new schedule for myself and my family. When you have a big family, lots of animals and a full time job, life is ever changing. That is why our schedules, habits and priorities change as we grow and learn. With these changes also comes with new habits that need to be built.

Before you go changing anything, you should give yourself time to define the meaning of this new habit you want to take on. Why are you doing it? Why is it important? When does it need to happen in your day? How flexible can you be?

It can be difficult to start a new habit. It is one thing to talk about it and another to actually do it. That is why anytime I want to start a new habit, I pair it with an old one. For example, when I started a new medicine, I left the bottle by my toothbrush so I wouldn't forget to take it. I know I am going to brush my teeth every morning so by putting the bottle there, it provides a reminder for me to take the medicine either before or after I am done brushing my teeth.

It can also be helpful to set a timer for yourself or have an accountability partner. Having soemthing hold you accountable can be a great way to avoid talking yourself out of something.

With that being said, it is also usually a good idea to not try to change too many things at once. This can be overwhelming for your brain. I know for me, I can be overly ambitious sometimes and I will want to revamp my whole morning routine. That will last maybe three days before I get burnt out. My recommendation, take it slow. Change one thing at a time and pair your new thing with an old one. This will give you a much higher probability to incorporate your new thing into your routine and schedule. Before you know it, it will be second nature.