Over the past month I have been working to correct a nasty habit of mine. It’s safe to say that I’m addicted to my smart phone. Somewhere along the lines I had built in the habit of sleeping with my phone right next to my bed and then checking my email as soon as I woke up. I justified this by saying I was being productive. I was getting a jump start to my day – answering emails and checking things out before I even got out of bed. But in reality it was seriously stressing me out. My brain would instantly turn on and start thinking about work. As a result, I was waking up stressed, which was setting the tone for the rest of my day. As you’ve probably seen in your own life, making the decision to replace a bad habit with a healthier one is the easy part. Actually changing the habit can be quite difficult. With the New Year coming up and lots of changes afoot, here are some simple tips for making lasting life changes.
photo credit: aussiegall
- Choose One – I’m sure we can all think of a million and one things that we want to change about ourselves. But the fastest way to fail at making significant changes is to try and change everything all at one time. Pick one new habit you’d like to form and focus on it. Once the new habit becomes a part of your regular behavior, you can move on to the next big change on your list.
- Start Small - In the same realm of focusing on one change at a time, it’s a lot easier to tackle a smaller change first than it is to completely overhaul your whole life. For example, I am working on developing a consistent and calming morning routine for myself that helps me get the day started right. Starting with changing my email habit is a lot easier than trying to completely introduce a brand new routine all at once. Even if you have a larger end goal in mind, start with a small change first and then continue to move on to the bigger ones. Making that first tiny positive change will give you the motivation you need to keep going forward with new changes.
- Be Kind to Yourself - Don’t beat yourself up if you backslide. It’s going to happen. There are mornings that I wake up just thinking about checking my email (I know, I have a problem!). And there have been mornings that I just gave into the temptation. That’s ok. Tomorrow is another day for me to keep working on this habit. Making lasting positive changes take time.
- Celebrate – Create milestones for yourself and acknowledge them. If you’re trying to create an exercise routine, be sure to give yourself some acknowledgement when you are able to stick to it for a week. Habit change is tough. Celebrate your accomplishments.
- Think Positive – Think about how much better you will feel when you are able to successfully enact your change. For my phone problem, I remember how calm I’ve felt when I didn’t immediately check my phone and how that flowed throughout my day.
- Or Think Negatively – Some people are driven more by moving away from pain than they are from moving towards pleasure. If this is you, think about how unhappy your current lifestyle is making you. Recall the times when your habit has made a negative impact on your life. Think about what you stand to lose if you don’t make the change.
- Commit – Making a lasting change – whether big or small – is a difficult thing. Make a personal commitment to yourself that you are going to do it. You should also make a public commitment. Let other people know what you are working on so that they can help keep you accountable.
Making lasting positive changes to your lifestyle can be a difficult but extremely rewarding process. But remember, with a little hard work and determination you can change anything.
What’s the biggest change you’ve made in your life so far? Are you planning on making any changes in the upcoming year?
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My totally free Coaching Cocktail Hour is swinging back around on December 14th at 8pm EST. Since the Holiday season is in full effect, we’ll be talking about staying sane during this busy time. And everyone who registers will get a complimentary copy of my Quickie Guide to White Space. This is the perfect time to get some laser coaching around balance, time-management & stress. Register for the call here. (note – please register even if you have done so in the past. We are using a new conference line).
