LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Even in perfect conditions, it is difficult to develop or maintain good habits. We easily fall into bad habits without even knowing it. Some things you unknowingly do that undermine your good habits that you don’t even think about.
1. You don’t believe in yourself enough
We often limit ourselves from a young age. We decide in advance what we are going to be able to handle and what not at all, and we don’t take into account that we are growing and constantly developing ourselves. We label ourselves without realising that we are limiting ourselves by this. These limits and personal frameworks seem very real to the person who creates them, but in fact they are not. It’s something we set up for ourselves and cling to as a ‘guidance’. Challenge yourself to look beyond your self-imposed limits. Believe that you can do more than you think. Do you have any evidence that you are not going to be able to or will not sustain something? What are you basing yourself on?
2. You may have another bad habit that you need to break before you can get a good habit
Some of us want to develop new good habits before breaking with the current bad ones. We too easily think that a new good habit is enough to compensate for the bad one, or even make it disappear all at once. Error! If the bad habit is persistent and has a major impact on your life, it’s hard to just “replace” it with a good habit. So first look for the core of your persistent bad habits and tackle them.
3. You want to change too much at once
Committing to your new New Year’s resolutions can be exciting. It’s easy to be over-enthusiastic and take on too much. However, we must keep in mind that some habits require a slow startup process. Changing or learning habits is often a slow and long road, with a lot of challenges along the way. You don’t develop a strong habit overnight. Try breaking your goal down into steps or smaller goals. In this way, gradually master your new habit and develop a firmer foundation for your new ritual.
4. You focus too much on results
Most people start changing their habits because they have a goal in mind. Small habits eventually add up to a bigger goal. This often takes some time. But don’t just focus on the ultimate goal. It distracts you from what’s going on right now. It will make you feel the time creeping by and that is not very motivating. Instead, focus on the overall good side of your new habits. Make them part of who you are. This will make it easier to reach your ultimate goal.
5. You forgot to adjust your environment to your new habits
At first, when you’re still excited about your resolutions, it’s easy to imagine that you’re going to persevere and that you’re strong enough to withstand all the distractions and temptations. In everyday life, on the other hand, our willpower sometimes shows cracks. Don’t make it too hard on yourself by staying in an environment that can easily make you give in to bad habits when things go wrong. Either you completely change your environment, or you clean up your environment by removing temptations.
