We all want to learn how to change our habits for the better. Let me be more accurate – we all want to learn how to change our habits for the better as quickly as possible!
I mean, let’s be honest – how many times have we written our New Year’s Resolutions determined that come January 1st, we will be this totally new and improved version of ourselves? Ta-da!
Well, I’ve been studying habits for quite some time now, and sadly, there isn’t really a “quick-fix” way to change your habits – which is why most people FAIL.
Think about it – when you try to change your habits too quickly, your lifestyle won’t be able to keep up. You get overwhelmed, you get disheartened, and then you go straight back to ground zero.
But don’t worry just yet, because I’ve got some great news…
You CAN change your habits and the course of your life IMMEDIATELY with this one little-known secret…
So what’s the big secret?
Well, it all comes down to you making a decision. You must make the simple decision that you want to change, but you must ACCEPT that this change will be SLOW!
Okay, I know I said that this article was about changing habits quickly, but I need to access the people that think this is possible – and then give them a big REALITY CHECK!
That’s why this article should really be called…
How to Change Your Habits Quickly by Going Slowly
Paradoxical, I know. But honestly: the fastest way to change your habits quickly is to GO SLOWLY – making tiny changes that will give BIG rewards.
And I’m going to show you exactly how to do this in just 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Start by changing your mindset
It all starts with your mindset. If you decide to change your life, you can and you will.
Your mindset is so unbelievably powerful. So powerful that people have used pure willpower to overcome extreme life circumstances – reaching crazy levels of success and achieving near unfathomable things (let’s not forget the mothers who have literally lifted cars to save their children).
If you have a strong will, you can do just about anything!
Of course it does take time to overcome your mental blocks, but that initial decision to change your habits for the better is what can change it all!
Here are the 3 most important mindset shifts you need:
1. Learn to be patient: your habits won’t change overnight. You need to realize it will take a bit of time. Be patient with yourself and don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen as quickly as you’d like it to.
2. Shift from thinking that you need this new habit to actually wanting this new habit: you need to remind yourself that this habit will bring you to a place that you want to be in life. Don’t think of it as a chore, or something to tick of your New Year’s Resolutions list, think of it as something that will make you genuinely happier in your day-to-day life.
3. Understand that new habits will be TOUGH at first: you have to push through the discomfort – that’s the only way you’ll be able to reach a point where your habits will stick.
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Step 2: Don’t expect your entire life to all of a sudden change – start with just ONE habit
Start with ONE habit that you want to change that will give you the most reward. By starting with one small change and sticking with it each day, you’ll get into the habit of self-improvement and continuous growth. Over time, this will snowball into big changes in your life!
In my course on personal development and habit-building (which is coming soon, btw!), I talk about the idea of habit stacking. This is the BEST and easiest way to make lasting change, because it allows you to build upon your habits over time.
It also works great because it makes you develop a “cue” that will remind you to do your new habit every day.
Here’s a quick and easy way to habit stack using cues:
- Start by choosing the habit that you think will change your daily routine the most (and for the best). For example, waking up earlier.
- Once you have gotten used to this habit, add another habit that builds off of the first one. For example, adding 5 minutes of exercise to your morning routine.
- Once both of those habits are in place (after about a month or so), add yet another habit onto them. For example, making a healthy breakfast that will fuel your day.
This technique works well because it allows each of your habits to become cues for the next habit, allowing you to add habit after habit to create a routine that works for you!
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Step 3: Make a goal plan to help you change your habits
Making a plan can change your life. It can lead to real results and lasting change.
Just the simple act of writing something down that you are looking forward to can make you feel so much happier and more motivated!
That’s why it’s important to write down a simple goal plan that outlines all the steps that you need to take in order to reach your goals and change your habits.
This will serve as a daily reminder that outlines specific steps that will make the whole process of changing your habits much easier.
Some tips for helping you make an effective goal plan include:
– Choosing habits that will serve your wider goals
– Choosing habits that compliment each other (for example, habits that are easily stackable)
Give yourself two weeks to a month to allow for each new habit to become ingrained in your routine. And remember – some habits will come quicker than others!
The time is NOW to change your habits!
You CAN change your habits and you CAN change your life – and you can do this all right now.
As long as you are willing and able to accept that these changes won’t necessarily be instant – and that they will take real effort and determination – then you’ve already done half the battle!
Some closing words of wisdom to help you going forward:
– It all starts with 3 key mindset shifts – learning to be patient, shifting from thinking that you need to change your habits to actually wanting to change your habits, and understanding that incorporating new habits will be tough at first
– Think baby steps: start small with just one habit change, and work your way up from there
– Take some time to write down a goal plan that outlines the practical steps you need to take to change your habits
– And lastly (but definitely not least!) – don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember that changing your habits is a difficult thing to do – so don’t worry if you run into some bumps in the road (this is normal!). Celebrate the small wins – because it’s the small wins that will over time turn into the big wins.
