We all have habits, right? Good and bad. I hope picking your nose isn’t one of them!
But it’s true we have habits even if we don’t realise we have them, and the good habits really can help make life easier.
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Why are good habits important?
I find that if I stick to a (good) habit, it eliminates the need for self control, and for me that’s great. Because if I have to exercise self control in a decision, like whether or not to eat a big piece of cake for breakfast, I know that given a little push I’m likely to cave under temptation – particularly if someone else is having a piece of cake too.
With a habit – such as, I do not eat cake on weekdays *Ever* my self control is not required to be upstanding because it doesn’t come into the equation.
Habits, like manners, I reckon, maketh man. Is that terribly old fashioned?
I can’t stand bad manners. People who don’t say please, or thank you, really pee me off. And on a side note, if I’ve ever been guilty of this, you can strike me off your Christmas list – immediately.
5 Good Habits You Really Should Start Today
- Start a gratitude list and write down 3 – 5 good things that happen each day.
- Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour – walk, do yoga, or pilates.
- Take 15 to 30 minutes each day for you, make it Me Time – read, cook, write, sew – do what pleases you.
- Each time you boil the kettle, do your pelvic floor exercises.
- Make a habit of always taking the stairs, and always parking in the furthest parking spot wherever you go.
Trying to uphold good habits
My best good habit is that I walk every morning before my first cup of coffee.
This is not a decision up for debate. It’s a habit. I do it come rain or shine. My shoes are ready, my walking clothes laid out or at least accessible, and water bottle within easy view.
I don’t have to use any self control, I just go.
Another habit I try to stick to is not eating bread, potatoes, rice or pasta during weekdays. Finished, finito, no need to think about it any further. I just don’t cook them.
Making good habits can be more difficult as we get older
Don’t you find making decisions harder as you get older? I do. I tend to pontificate (good word, huh!). Shall I shan’t I, should I could I, would it be better if, or not?
Perhaps it’s because I feel I don’t have time on my side so much anymore, and I’m desperately seeking the best thing to do for the time available.
The irony is, if I’d made that thing I’m thinking about a habit, I wouldn’t have spent time pontificating, and I wouldn’t have involved my brain in the drain of decision making.
Having a habit would mean that I’d already decided, no quantitive decision required.
How do we make habits
Some people like to start big, with a big, bold, sweeping habit. Others might start small and miniscule. Many people do this at the start of a new year – but why only on the 1st January? You can do it anytime.
[Tweet “The trick to making a good habit is to just decide on something, and stick to it.”]Make sure it’s specific.
I’m going to be happy is too vague.
I’m going to go the beach for a walk after work every day because it makes me happy, is specific.
I’m going to get up earlier isn’t specific.
I’m going to set the alarm for 6.30am (half an hour earlier than usual) so that I can have some me time in the morning, is more concrete and offers a benefit too.
Do you have a good habit to share? Or will you make a new one today?
I really need to make exercising each day a habit because it does wonders for my mental health. At the moment I keep using the excuse “but we’re trying to get pregnant so I’m just going to get big again anyway” so I don’t even start. However, we’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year now so I should probably just ignore that and start exercising! #teamIBOT
Hello Toni1 Yes, I think you that’s a good idea 🙂 and like you I find exercise does wonders for how I feel about the day ahead.
Haha, I like the pelvic floor tip! I think just fitting in a few butt clenches/squat/stretches whenever you can is such good advice. It’s too hard to wait until you have an hour to spare so you have to use all those 60 second opportunities! Sometimes that’s all you’ll get and once you get started you often don’t want to stop.
You’re right Annabel, it’s all those 60 second opportunities put together which count. I’m on to it today, thank you!
You are right about the power of habits to reduce the need for self-control and decision-making. I’ve somehow thought of habits as being boring – boring people do the same thing every day and I don’t want to sacrifice spontanaity. Funny thing is the bad habits stick anyway! Nice to find your blog on the link-up for IBOT. I’m 47, so I’m heading your way!
Hi Kathy, me too – habits, routine … oh gosh they were much the same as thinking about putting on slippers and sitting by the fire for ever and a day! But they actually do free-up time, rather than take it up, I reckon. Going to pop over to ‘visit’ you from IBOT too 🙂
Oh you make me feel guilty cos I have SO many bad habits. No wonder I’m 60kg overweight as I struggle to exercise AT ALL at the moment and I eat carbs every night!
Not to mention lots of other bad things…
Hello Deb, maybe ditch one bad habit today and replace it with a good one?
I heard once that it takes about 2 weeks for an activity to become a habit – like walking every morning for instance. However it is so easy to drop these habits too with excuses….. We had been walking every morning but slowly little things are creeping in – like having to take our grandkids to school this morning (yes we could have walked after we had dropped them off..), and tomorrow morning hubby wants to start his painting (inside house painting) early… We haven’t walked now since last week. Hmm….I need to start forming this habit again….I know it is good for me!
It’s amazing how quickly we can let habits slip isn’t it Jill – even if we have been following them religiously. But life sometimes does just step in, doesn’t it. I think it’s getting back to good habits when we haven’t been able to follow them for a while which defines our grit and resolve to keep them going. Hope you get back to walking. It’s probably my fave habit because I enjoy it 😉
Ah yes, good stuff Jo! You sound like you’re channeling your inner Gretchen Rubin, have you read her book “Better than before” on habits? (If not, you should, it’s brilliant).
Hi Amanda, no I haven’t read any Gretchen Rubin, but her book sounds just the ticket – will check it out. Thank you for the heads up. Now I’m going to pop across to your Podcast – Episode 3 already – you are rocking it!
Like you I always exercise for at least half an hour a day. If I don’t I feel more lethargic and I find it clears my head and energises me for the day ahead. My other good habit is that I have a fresh squeezed lemon in water every morning when I wake up. I find it gets rid of toxins in my digestive system and gives me a good cleanse inside. I like you habit of not eating carbs during the week. I might have to pinch that one!
It’s amazing how exercise clears my head Kathy and like you if I do it in the morning it energises me for the day, and I have some of my best ideas when I’m out walking. I like your habit of fresh squeezed lemon in water every morning – might pinch that one from you – and sure you can have mine of not eating carbs during the week – Lol!