A Quick One on Habits

Hi guys, how do you do? 

Today's post is a quick one on habits. Are you ready? Let's go… 

On the 16th of September, 2022, I put up this post on Whatsapp and a friend of mine replied, asking me to impart her with the habit.. 

I told her habits are not imparted, but built over time with consistency. The operational word there is consistency. Consistency over intensity will always yield better results. Most times, we can have plenty of ginger when starting a new habit or routine. But trust me, with time, it eventually fades or reduces. What keeps you going is your commitment to be consistent. 

So now, how can you build habits and be consistent with them? I know you're asking this question already. Here goes your answer: 

I totally love how James Clear explained it in his book; Atomic Habits. 

Atomic Habits is a guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones. It emphasizes the importance of making small, incremental changes to one's habits, as opposed to trying to make big changes all at once. Clear argues that by focusing on "atomic habits" - small, specific actions that can be easily integrated into one's daily routine, it is possible to create a "compound effect" that leads to significant progress over time. 

The book also covers strategies for overcoming common obstacles to habit formation, such as lack of motivation and procrastination. Generally, it provides a practical, actionable framework for improving one's habits and achieving long-term goals.

He mentioned four ways to build a new habit. I'll mention just two so you can go read the book. 

The first is to make it visible. Make the new habit you're trying to build visible in your environment, while you make the bad habit you're trying to stop invisible. For example, if you want to start consuming more fruits and cut down on your consumption of carbonated drinks, you should buy fruits and keep them within sight in your house. 

Say on the table or anywhere that's easy for you to see. So it's easy to grab a fruit once you see it. On the other hand, get rid of carbonated drinks or hide them, to make them less visible. That way it gets out of sight and you know that out of sight can eventually become out of mind, right? 

Then the next is to pair a habit you're trying to build with an activity you already do frequently. So say you want to start listening to sermons daily,  what do you do daily that can be paired with listening to a sermon? Practice this and it'll stick with time. 

I use this method a lot. Almost every activity I do has a 'twin' activity paired with it. And that's what birthed this post, remember the beginning of the post? 

So for me, transit time equals tongues time. House chore time equals music, sermon or YouTube video time. Same as cooking and exercise time. And I try to infuse praying in tongues too.

It's almost automatic now, once I start any of those activities, I'm tuning into the twin activity almost immediately. I like this, and I'm seeking to improve on it with other twin activities. I plan to pair bathing and dressing up time with saying my confessions. I'm looking to grow the habit of saying my confessions regularly and consistently. 

I'll use the two methods of habit building for this, meaning that aside from pairing it with my bath and dress-up time, I'll also paste it near the mirror so that it is visible. 

You should be looking for ways to build great habits and I highly recommend that you read Atomic Habits. It'll enlighten you more on how to go about it. 

Building great habits is crucial to achieving success and living a fulfilling life. Habits are actions that we repeat regularly, and they have a powerful impact on our daily lives. Whether it's waking up early, exercising, or studying, good habits can help us achieve our goals and improve our overall well-being.

Now, don't try to do it all at once. You'll wear yourself out that way. Instead,  start small, become consistent, and grow.

Here are a few tips to help you on this journey: 

1. Start small: It's important to start with small, manageable goals when building new habits. If you try to tackle too much at once, you're more likely to get overwhelmed and give up. Instead, focus on one habit at a time and gradually increase it as you become more comfortable with it.

2. Make it a routine: Habits are formed when an action becomes a regular part of our daily routine. To build a new habit, make it a part of your daily routine by setting a specific time and place to do it. For example, if you want to start exercising, schedule a particular time each day to go for a run or hit the gym.

3. Track your progress: Keeping track of your progress is a great way to stay motivated and on track. You can use a habit tracker app, a calendar, or even just a notebook to keep track of your progress. Seeing how far you've come can be a powerful motivator.

4. Be consistent: Consistency is key when building great habits. It's important to stick to your routine, even on days when you don't feel like it. Remember, it takes time and effort to build a new habit, so don't get discouraged if you slip up occasionally.

5. Reward yourself: Celebrate your successes along the way. When you reach a milestone or accomplish a goal, reward yourself with something you enjoy. This will help keep you motivated and make the habit-forming process more enjoyable.

Building great habits is not easy. It takes time and effort, but it's worth it. By starting small, making it a part of your daily routine, tracking your progress, being consistent, and rewarding yourself, you can build great habits that will have a positive impact on your life. 

So start today, and take the first step towards building the habits that will help you achieve your goals and live the life you want.

Love and light, 

Nancita✨