We can all agree that there is a glorification of BUSY going on and there is no shortage of suggestions on how to “Be more productive” or being asked to “Do more with less”. One often overlooked way to help us save time in our day and generate more mental energy is to create habits. Establishing effective habits in our daily routine helps us create ease and flow in our day. When you have fewer decisions to make it frees up your mind for creative thinking and making purposeful choices.
As many of us have experienced first- hand it’s hard to keep up willpower for any length of time. Yes, we can stick to a Juicing Plan or go hungry for a week on a low-calorie diet, but eventually our determination fades.
If you think about it, there is an inverse relationship between habits and will power. When you first want to build a new habit, it takes a lot of will power to get it done day in and day out. As you start to establish that habit, it becomes easier and easier to do until you don’t even have to think about it anymore.
Just being aware of this process helps us stick it out. We know we don’t always have to make such a big effort to skip the muffin for a healthy breakfast. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. We recognize eventually it will become habit to go out for a run first thing in the morning and grab some fruit for breakfast.
Tips to Create a Habit
· Use a to-do list or set a text reminder to help stay on track
· Find an accountability partner so the two of you can motivate each other
· Pre-planning for your new habit. Laying out your running clothes the night before
By creating a new habit, you have given yourself more time to think about the things that matter most which keep you living a purposeful life.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit”–Aristotle