Keys to Developing Habits

1. Choose the right habit. What will make the biggest impact and what can you implement right now?

2. Start small. If you want to start meditating, start with 3 minutes a day. Then gradually increase. Seeing success early and avoiding overwhelm is key.

3. Limit activation energy. Make it as easy as possible to do the habit each day. If you want to start a gratitude journal, leave the journal right next to your bed or even on your bed. Limiting the time it takes you to start the habit by 20 seconds will greatly increase your chances of doing it.

4. Do it at the same each day.

5. Make it time based rather than outcome based. Read for 20 minute per day rather than 20 pages a day.

6. Plan for pitfalls. What could possibly get in the way and how will you deal it? If you do miss a day, it is not the end of the world. Just make sure it doesn’t turn into several days in a row.

7. Give yourself enough time. It takes 66 days on average to build a new habit. This will vary depending on the person and the type of habit.

8. Reward yourself for sticking to it.

Now is a great time to start a new habit!