Rhiwbina Living 62

Make it easy
Make implementing your good
habits easy to do or access.
Writing plans or to-do lists
can help keep you on track and
focused, whether it's meal plans,
or simply a list of chores. Put
things in the diary or they'll never
get done.
Pack your gym bag, fill your
fridge with healthy food, get
enough sleep - as if you were
planning it for someone else.
Start by breaking habits into
smaller tasks that are manageable
and achievable. For example,
if you want to develop a habit
of reading daily, start with just
a few pages a day instead of
committing to a whole chapter
at once. Additionally, prepare
your environment to support
your habit. Keep a book by your
bedside, set a specific time for
reading, or create a cosy reading
nook to make it inviting. Eliminate
distractions that might derail your
efforts, and make the desired
behaviour as convenient as
possible.
Habit stacking
Most humans are creatures of
habit. It's where we feel safe so we
tend not to do anything different.
The idea of habit stacking is an
effective method of effecting
change without stressing us out
too much. It works on the basis
that you add a positive habit to
something that you already do
regularly. By pairing your new habit
with your current one, you'll find it
easier to incorporate better habits
into your life.
The idea is to start small. It could
be adding a 5 minute stretch
routine when you make a coffee in
the morning or doing a 5 minute
meditation on the train.
By starting small, you can focus
on making that new behaviour a
habit. Once you've mastered that,
then you can look to add another
one to the 'stack' and work on that
one too.
Stacking your habits avoids the
feeling of overwhelm on your
routine, giving you a better chance
of sticking to your new positive
habits.
Reward yourself
Celebrating your achievements, no
matter how small, can boost your
motivation and make the habitforming
process more enjoyable
and sustainable.
Find rewards that align with
your goals and provide a sense
of accomplishment. For example,
after completing a week of daily
reading, treat yourself to a relaxing
bath, a favourite snack, or perhaps
some leisure time with a hobby
you enjoy.
When we anticipate rewards,
dopamine levels in our brain rises,
making us feel good.
Be consistent
wellbeing
Consistency is the cornerstone of
building good habits and is crucial
for long-term success. When
you perform a specific behaviour
repeatedly, it becomes ingrained
in your routine and eventually
second nature. Consistency
reinforces neural pathways in the
brain associated with the habit,
making it easier to maintain over
time. By consistently practicing a
behaviour, you signal to your brain
that this action is important and
worth repeating.
When you encounter challenges
on your journey to forming a
habit, the momentum you've built
through consistent practice can
help you stay on track. It reinforces
your resilience and determination
to persevere through difficulties.
Ultimately then, consistency
transforms actions into habits and
habits into a lifestyle. By prioritising
consistency in your efforts to build
good habits, you set yourself up
for lasting success.
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