Are your habits helpful?

September 8th, 2010 by admin

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” ~Jim Ryun

Your habits will either help you or hinder you in achieving your goals. Here are some advice on that subject.

Achieve Your Goal – Forming Habits By Eric Eliacin

One of the most effective ways to achieve a goal is to make it a habit to practice, usually on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this method can also be extremely difficult as well as frustrating. We find ourselves saying, “I wish I had some motivation,” or “If only I had the discipline to keep at it.” Luckily, there are a few strategies available to make the process less stressful.

How Habits are Formed
The human body is very good at adaptation. This includes the mind’s ability to identify processes in one’s life that are repetitive and provide subconscious reminders to perform these actions. For example, if you do not eat, your body automatically creates pains in your stomach to let you know it is hungry. This type of reaction is the same with daily habits such as taking a shower or sleeping.

On average, it takes approximately 3 weeks (21 days) for a habit to develop. This means that if you are able to repeat the same action every day for 21 days, your body will begin to familiarize itself with the process. Three weeks is not a very long time at all. With a little bit of dedication for a short duration, your body can help you to learn just about anything!

The Benefits
Once you are able to create your own habits, the opportunity to learn new skills is wide open! Losing weight is a sinch if you are committed to exercising daily. Same with learning an instrument or working a muscle. And by writing a little every day, you can easily complete the next great novel! All you have to do is spend some time every day working toward your goal for three consecutive weeks. After that, your body will automatically remind you to practice.

Finding the Motivation
Three weeks is not a very long time; however, it can still cause a lot of stress. Here are a few methods to help you work through it.

1. Leave Yourself Notes
This can be done in a number of ways. It can take the form of sticky notes or even a message you leave on your answering machine. The trick is to capitalize on habits you already have. If there is something you already do daily, leave a note for you to find when you are doing it. For example, leave a note on your computer if you check your emails everyday, or one on the bathroom mirror for you to see when you’re brushing your teeth. Be creative!

Also, be mindful that, once you start to take the note for granted, you may overlook it. One way to overcome this is to leave a variety of notes in different places. Or change the location/form of the note once in a while or each time you see it. For the same reason, it is dangerous to skip days. If you do not perform your habit once, it could mean having to completely restart your three-week process, so don’t take it lightly.

2. Wear a String on Your Finger
This is an old technique, but still very useful. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to tie a string around your finger; other methods are just as helpful. For example, wearing a special bracelet has been a method that has worked for me. Just make sure the accessory you wear is both comfortable and unfamiliar. Using something you already wear wont work because, you won’t remember to attach a meaning to it. However, seeing/feeling a foreign object tied to your body is a perfect way to force yourself to ask, “Why did I put this here?”

3. Keep a Tally
Keeping a written record of your progress is also a good idea. It helps to keep the process in your mind and also serves as a reminder of how long you have until the three weeks are up. Then you can judge how deeply embedded into your daily schedule your new habit is. Be sure to keep track of dates and if you’ve skipped a day. Sometimes skipping is no big deal, but for some habits it can make all the difference, so keeping a record is helpful.

Have Faith!
Be sure to always have faith in yourself. Don’t start questioning your motives or making excuses. Even if the habit you form does not end up being as advantageous as you had hoped, the experience you gain in forming it is beneficial in the long run. Most of all, be sure to constantly remind yourself of where you are and how great it will be once you’ve finished. This will motivate you to keep trying and to stay active.

Remember that determination goes a long way. Be confident in your self and most of all, don’t give up!

For more on the benefits of goals and positive thinking visit: http://www.healthmad.com/Mental-Health/Finding-Happiness-What-the-Pursuit-is-All-About.56478

Find more articles by Eric Eliacin (The Street Saint) on Triond: http://www.triond.com/users/Street+Saint

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Eliacin

TODAY’S TIP: Look at the things you consistently do over and over. Are they helpful or do they hinder you?

What are your habits?