How to Install new habit?
Today, I want to share with you small trick I use to install new habit.
For example:
You want to start exercising more or at least move your body more often.
Well, I was in similar situation too, and here is what I did:
1st of all is important that you really take your time to write down
or make a list on your computer and then print out.
This physical step is single most important point of this whole operation.
You need to take action, move your body, make a spreadsheet, list,
and have it physically in front of you before you even begin doing the habit you want to install.
So I went over this and installed:
7 habits at once!
Have a look at the list I created:
The list includes 7 habits I wanted to install (as you can see on the left column)
Then I listed Days:
I started on Monday and I did the particular habit I wanted to install
only for 3min that day. THAT’S RIGHT! ONLY FOR 3MIN!
But then, here is the trick,
I did 3min for 3 days and @ the 4th Day I increased
to 4min each exercises, and again did it for another 3 days and then increased to 5min.
And you get the point.
During the process something interesting happened.
When I got up to 5min per exercise I started to feel resistance to do so.
Of course, if I only would chose 1 or 2 new habits it would be much easier.
Since I chose 7 it is 35min all together. I know it sound like nothing when you compare that
to all the hours you have in a day.
Another key point to realize here is to identify where is your support & resistance.
If 5min feels like a burden, then just do happily 3min!
Like C’mon, you do have 3min a day for you new habit– there is no excuse!
So then just do 3min, and while you doing it, you will be like: “what the hell, I might as well do that 5min.”
And HERE YOU COME! You Did it!
It’s freaking easy guys!!
The point is to start small and let it snowball it.
In my story I got complete break down on a 3rd day of 5min (9th day overall)
and I did maybe 1 or 2 exercises- I completely omitted physical (krav-maga & Push Ups+Core)
Then on Thursday I picked myself back up and did all exercises for that day and even did
some “make-ups” for previous days that I missed.
Food Habit
The most happy, I am about is a ‘food habit’ (eating slow) Because, I’m usually a very fast eater. My wife always says that I drink food.
I would set the timer on my phone for 3min, and eat deliberately slow, and chew very slow, almost like eating in slow motion. I’d focus on taste of each thing I put in my mouth.
But because of this habit- it forced me to slow tf down and enjoy the food more.
Feel the texture and different tastes. Enjoy and really appreciate how it taste.
I came across interesting discovery while, slowing down and enjoying food more.
I’d eat Cheetos and do the same- close my eyes and feel the texture and taste,
take time to chew and swallow.
And you know what- it made me realized that I actually don’t want to eat snacks anymore.
I realized that single chip tastes like nothing, so it makes you to grab 3 or 4 at
the same time and shove into you mouth- and then you eat completely unaware, unconsciously.
Just shoving chips in your mouth.
You know this small example, can be translated to many many other things in your life.
All it takes just to shine a little light on it, and once you see it, even just for once.
It will never leave you- it will always nudge you.
It is a positive door you have just opened in our life.
And that’s how progress is made, and how you rebuild yourself.
By small choice and good action you take every day.
It’s better to do something for 3min but EVERYDAY than do something just
1 time a week for 1h. (at least in my POV)
And this is a Law of Correspondence- right there.
One good day is somewhere a life time.
So let it snowball, let it compound.
Your good things are not lost, even you broke down a bit somewhere along the way.
It’s important you stand up again and keep going.
Install a new habit- test yourself this method and let me know in the comments how it went for you.
Cheers!
Check out other Post in different categories:
Ego: Start Ego Dissolution journey here
Energy: 4 Energies