Most of us know what we need to do to live a good life. We know that we need to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. We know that we need to pay our bills on time, and keep clean, orderly homes. The challenge we face is this: How do we turn those good actions into behaviors that we do consistently? In short, how do we turn those good behaviors into good habits that stick?
I’ve had varying success with getting good habits to stick. In some areas, I’ve been extremely successful. For example, years ago, I gave up eating chicken, pork and beef, and I adopted a diet that consists of fish and vegetables. (The fancy term for my diet is the “pescatarian” diet.) I’ve had this diet for years, and I’ve never been tempted to return to eating meat.
However, I’ve struggled with adopting other habits. For instance, over the years, I’ve tried to establish a consistent meditation practice. Unfortunately, I’ve never been successful. My challenge is that I have trouble sitting still, and I have a mind that wanders! At most, I’ve been able to do walking meditations which allow me to move while I meditate. However, I still hope to establish a true meditation practice at some point.
Based on my successes and failures, I’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to adopt a good habit. Read about some approaches below that will help you adopt good habits and make them stick!
Pick a Habit with a Definable Benefit
It’s hard to commit to a habit if it will only benefit you in some vague, undefinable way. For instance, let’s say that you want to give up chips and soda and adopt better eating habits. If your goal is generally to be “healthier,” that goal isn’t going to motivate you. It’s too nebulous. That’s a goal that you’ll give up in a matter of days or weeks.
However, let’s say that you want to adopt better eating habits with the end goal of losing 20 pounds. That’s a definable goal! And every time you’re tempted to drink a can of soda, you’ll first think, “Yikes! If I drink that, I won’t reach my weight loss goal.” By having a definable goal, you’ll be motivated to stay on the straight and narrow.
In my own life, I make sure that my good habits serve a definable purpose. For example, I hate going for dental cleanings. My teeth are highly sensitive, and I dread going to the dentist. So, when it comes to caring for my teeth, my definable goal is to take such good care of my teeth that my dental cleanings are short and pain-free.
As a result, long ago, I adopted the habit of flossing twice daily, brushing my teeth three times a day and using two mouthwashes. That may sound like overkill, but I would rather spend an extra couple of minutes on my teeth each day than endure painful a dentist visit. As a result, my teeth cleaning habit has been one that has been easy to stick to!
So, when trying to make your good habits stick, pick habits with definable goals. If a habit will clearly benefit you, you’ll do it consistently, even if it’s inconvenient.
Be Willing to Endure Negative Feedback
Realize that when you adopt a good habit, not everyone is going to applaud your efforts. That sounds crazy, but sadly, it’s true. For example, let’s say that you want to lose weight. However, everyone in your family is overweight. They may not encourage your efforts to eat healthier foods and exercise. That is because your losing weight threatens their complacency. After all, if you lose weight, then what excuse do they have not to do the same!
People can have unusual reactions when you try to adopt good habits. For instance, in the past 10 years, I’ve given up eating meat, and I stopped drinking alcohol. Objectively, those are both good habits! And yet, I’ve been shocked by the negative feedback that I’ve received since improving my dietary habits.
For some strange reason, some folks are unnerved by my decision to give up meat and alcohol. It’s as if I’ve become socially unacceptable. Fortunately, I’m not easily swayed by the opinions of others. So, over the years, I’ve stuck to my decision to give up meat and alcohol. And the good news is that my habits now align with my ethics, and my good habits keep me healthy!
And that is the key to sticking to any good habit (and really, it’s the key to living an authentic life). Give up caring what other people think (which is a waste of time), and do what is right and good for you.
Turn Your Habit into Your Passion
The people I know who have great, long-lasting habits are passionate about their habits. Their habits, in part, define them.
For example, I have a good friend who has a habit of running 2 ½ miles a day. He has had this habit for years. However, he doesn’t say, “Well, I have a good habit of running 2 ½ miles every day.” Instead, he says, “I’m a runner.” He defines himself by his habit.
Once you define yourself by your habit, that habit is hard to give up, whether it be a good habit or a bad one. For instance, people who smoke every day are called “smokers.” Their bad habit defines them. Better to be defined by a good habit!
So, when people ask me about my diet, I don’t just say, “Well, I don’t eat chicken, pork and beef.” Instead, I say, “I’m a pescatarian.” I define myself, in part, by my diet. And that comment always leads to an interesting discussion of what the word “pescatarian” means!
Moreover, being a pescatarian is a passion for me. I love trying different vegan, vegetarian and fish recipes from all over the world. Recently, I’ve been trying recipes with solely plant-based ingredients, and I’ve been amazed at the incredible dishes that I’ve been able to prepare.
So, if you really want to adopt a good habit and make it stick, make that habit your passion. Study everything about it. Become an expert in it! Define yourself by your good habit, and see how much easier it is to keep that habit.
We all want to have good habits. And while starting a good habit is easy, sticking to it is not! If there is a good habit that you want to adopt, consider using the tips above. And then see your life change for the better! (To read about 30 habits for happiness and better health, click here.)
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