How To Develop Habits

Developing Good Habits

 

Self Talk

Self talking is the best way in which you can instill any good habit and give up a bad habit. Keep speaking to yourself about the change which you want to see in yourself. Repeat the statements which will help affirm the particular new habit which you want to create a part of your daily life.

Directed Imagination

Another effective way in which you can incorporate a new habit consciously is by imagining yourself performing the action relating to the new habit. Visualize yourself performing the new activity or a role and see how good you sound and look. This visual imaginative role that you will see yourself in, will help you easily make the habit a part of your daily routine.

 

One Habit For 30 Days

It can so happen that you want to bring about a number of changes in your behavior at a time. In such a case take up a single change that you want to see in yourself and start practicing it daily consciously for 30 days at a stretch. After 30 days you will realize that you no more need to practice the change you want to be because it has now become a habit. After 30 days you can take up the next endeavor.

 

Use A Trigger

A trigger is a small ritual which you perform before getting used to a habit. A simple habit which you want to inculcate like not watching excess of television, can be triggered by setting a self-timer in the television. The time you want the television to get switched off, set the timer to that time so that the T.V will get switched off, forcing you to engage yourself in something more productive. You can use such small triggers to consciously develop a habit.

 

Replacement

Replacement is the key word to develop a new habit. In order to remove something from the system without damaging the other files it is necessary to fill in the gap which was created due to the removal of a file. Similarly if you are giving up a habit you need to fill up the free space by a habit that fulfill the same requirement as the old habit. For eg. giving up watching television means you need to find some other relaxation medium for yourself. This approach will make it simpler for you to get used to the change you want to be.

 

“But” To Kill Bad Thoughts

A prominent habit changing step can be to force out all the negative thoughts from your mind. The moment you think negative about yourself and find yourself incapable of taking a strong stand, use the word ‘but’ and bring in the positive about yourself. This negative positive game will help develop your self-confidence and will make you believe in the change you are going to make.

 

Write It Down

You can even write down a particular habit in a piece of paper and stick it to a place where it will be visible to you. This will keep reminding you about the commitment you made to your brain and will help you in working towards living that change you wished for.

 

Keep It Simple

Changing for the good is beneficial both to your personality and to others as well. But, you should keep in mind that changing is a small process and your body and mind should first get used to the new introduction. Therefore, don’t get too harsh on yourself and keep only one or two rules simple rules and not a dozen rules regarding the new habit. Simple rules will help you create habits, whereas complex rules will just put you in a more complex puzzle.

 

Consistency Is Key

The point of a habit is that it doesn’t require thought. Make sure that your habit is consistently being followed everyday without fail. This consistent performance will drill in the habit in you instead of multiple habits loosely conditioned.