5 Tips to Create Habits for Success

Do you have a plan in place to help you create habits for success?

Habits can be defined as behavioural patterns that are automatic.

Habits are usually repeated and unconscious.

Some habits are good, and some not so good.

To help you create habits that are good, I wanted to write this post and share with you five tips to create your habits for success.

1. Creating routines

Creating routines in your life are a powerful way to effectively manage your energy.

When you take charge of your habits by creating routines, you reduce the energy load on your conscious mind.

Routines also reduce decision fatigue.

Having to make hundreds of decisions each day can deplete your energy. So many decisions we make every day are often the same, and often unnecessary.

• What shall I wear today?
• What shall I have for dinner?
• What should I write about on my blog?

You may recall that Steve Jobs always wore the same outfit each day. Black turtleneck, blue jeans and sneakers.

This was one less thing for him to think about when he got ready in the morning. Freeing his mind up to focus on creating the next amazing Apple product.

Think about what you can instigate in your life to reduce decision fatigue.

Here are some examples:

• You don’t have to go to the extreme of just wearing one outfit ALL the time. However, why not have a few favs that you wear on certain days of the week?
• Plan your weekly meals in advance every Sunday.
• Brainstorm what you’re going to blog, podcast or record Lives about 1-3 months in advance.

2. Habit stacking

A great way to form a new habit is to piggyback the new habit onto something you already do automatically.

Say for example, you want to start writing three things you are grateful for each day. If you already have a regular habit of journaling every day, you can piggyback onto this habit.

You may decide to write your gratitude before you start journaling or afterwards.

Another example is if you want to get into the habit of installing positive self talk each day. I’ve already shared the importance of your self talk in a previous post.

I’m sure you already brush your teeth twice a day? Using this automatic habit that you already have, spend the 2 minutes while you brush your teeth, repeating positive self talk to yourself.

To remind you to do this, put a post-it note on your bathroom mirror with your positive words.

3. Mentally rehearsing

Mentally rehearsing is very powerful as it builds the neural pathways and patterns even before you take action.

This can be as simple as mentally rehearsing yourself getting out of bed each morning, putting on your exercise gear, and heading straight out the door for a walk.

Of course you need to eventually take action and actually do it! But starting off with mentally rehearsing will help you to perform your new habit without thinking too much about it. Because you’ve already done it over and over in your mind.

As an added bonus tip here, you can lay your exercise gear out the night before. Or whatever makes sense for the new habit you are wanting to form.

4. List alternatives

This is a great tip if you want to remove a habit that doesn’t serve you.

If, for example, you want to stop watching mindless tv shows every night.

Make a list of ten other things you could do as an alternative.

This could include activities such as going for a walk, meeting up with a friend, reading a book, listening to a podcast, watching an online course, and so on.

Get creative. Think of things you loved to do as a child. Maybe painting, dancing, hula hooping!

If you find yourself automatically flopping onto the sofa at the end of the day and flicking on the tv. Grab your list and pick one that puts a smile on your face and just do it!

After a while, doing some different will become your new habit.

5. Get accountability

Finally, getting support can often be a very helpful way to create habits for success.

If you know someone is holding you accountable, you are more likely to stick with a new habit.

Accountability could be in the form of a coach or it could be a friend who is wanting to create the same habit.

If you team up, you can support each other then celebrate your successes!

Success is the product of daily habits — not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.

― James Clear

Bonus tip

I had to add this final tip and that is to never miss twice!

Consistency is key.

If you happen to miss your morning walk one day, recommit to absolutely doing it the next day. Double your efforts.

We develop habits by repetition and they eventually become subconscious.

Once you have a new habit on autopilot, you can start working on the next. Get clear on what you want to change and why it’s important to you.

What new habits for success are you going to create?