Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do the best.
- Marva Collins
Our habits make up the web that supports the fabric of our daily lives. We may often not even realize we have them, but trust me, they are there. Good and bad, we all repeat them in often unconscious patterns that shape the tone, productiveness and success of our lives. You cannot escape this reality. Whether you work in a corner office, are a stay at home mom or especially if you work from home or are a business owner, the quality and efficiency of your work depend on good habits. The good news is that habits can be changed with persistence and patience.
If you want to change the quality and trajectory of your life, then you must cultivate better habits and cease old patterns.
Reality check – Have you identified the habits that are not serving you? Let’s be honest. We know when a habit is undermining our plans and progress. We stay up too late, watch too much TV, eat unhealthy food, compulsively check email or haunt Facebook. We overspend and ignore our health. Whatever your destructive patterns are, you have to be willing to look at them honestly.
Why – Know your motivation. Is it better health, getting your home or office organized, losing weight, making more money or getting out of debt? Is there a project you need to finish or a dream that you want to pursue? Motivation can be the determining factor in whether you succeed or not.
Stay positive – It is far easier to focus on cultivating a positive habit rather than trying to simply break an old one.
Some examples:
Instead of saying I need to cut out sugar, you might try I will eat fruit for dessert.
Instead of I want to cut back on spending, you might want to say I will save X amount per week.
Instead of trying to refrain from checking email first thing in the morning, you could cultivate a habit of using your first hour for either your most important work (which I doubt is email) or your self-care (exercise, reading, etc.)
*My ongoing struggle is to consistently get enough sleep and rise earlier. I know that sets the tone for my whole day and often makes the difference between a productive day and a stressful one. So that will be my habit change for October.
Join me in the 30 day challenge to a more productive life by changing your habits. I recommend you choose just one to start and stay consistent. As we progress through October I will share more tips and strategies for making your habits stick.
What habit will you choose to change?
Read more on changing habits and making them stick.
