How To Create And Make Habits

Making habits can be difficult. The key is to understand what to expect when you make a new habit. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll know what it takes to form a habit.

How powerful is the ability to make a new habit?

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that sewage works smell of piss and shit.

Over time sewage workers get used to the smell! That’s how powerful habits are!

To be successful in either business or freelancing, there are things that you must do daily. If you make habits of these activities, your success becomes inevitable. It’ll no longer be a question of if you’ll succeed, but when you’ll succeed.

Armed forces all over the world train their recruits using the technique I present below. They use it because it works. It can work for you too.

Enough Rambling. Here’s The Basics

The basic tenant of making a habit is that the more you do something the easier it becomes. If you wish to run daily, your first few runs will be the most difficult. Later there will still be some resistance, but less than at the start. Eventually, you’ll do it automatically.

Your first two or three weeks of running could be an, erm, uphill battle, with every fiber of your body resisting. After performing a habit daily for 30 days, however, you’re over the worst. After six months, it’ll be set in stone.

Then you can create another new habit.

You should expect a few bumps in the road. There will be days when you cannot do the activity in question, or you will choose not to do it. You may stop doing it for a week or even a month. If this happens, get back on track, and remember that all you’ve got to do is stick with it, because…

It will eventually become something that you just do.

There are many reasons why people fail to make a new habit. Some people make excuses to justify why they’re stopping, while others forget about what they’re trying to do altogether.

The Memory Of A Goldfish

Forgetting is a real show-stopper when it comes to habit forming.

It’s easy to do. For example, let’s say you haven’t run for a month due to bad weather. When the weather has improved, your running habit has conveniently slipped your mind.

Be commited to forming your new habit.

Keeping a habit diary can help. It can simply be a piece of paper stuck on your fridge. You can record your progress and give yourself a satisfying tick every day.

That said, don’t get dejected or beat yourself up for not sticking to your new habit. Realize that habit forming isn’t a straight line — well, unless you’re a saint. If you’ve missed a few days or maybe even a few months, dust yourself off, and then simply start doing it again.

The first time back after a break can be difficult, but you’ll find it easier afterwards. Each time you return it is gets easier and easier.

Remember: You may stop and start four or five times, but as long as you keep returning to it, it will become a habit.

Don’t Put Too Much On Your Plate

Another reason for failure is when you try to create too many new habits at once. This often results in failing to create a single new habit.

Learn your limits and stay within them. In my experience, it’s better to be conservative rather than ambitious.

I think willpower is a commodity of sorts. Use yours wisely.

Preparation, Preparation, Preparation

Make your new habit easy to perform. If you don’t, you could be mentally ready to run, but your running shoes and clothes could be anywhere. That may be the excuse to avoid running that day.

Taking the time to prepare is critical. Even before you start making a habit, consider every single detail of how, when, and where you will do it. Missing one detail may be the thing that derails you.

You Can Even Resort To Mystic Mumbo-Jumbo

Visualization can also be powerful. You can imagine how it’ll feel when your new habit is set in stone. Visualize yourself doing your daily run. Imagine how it would feel strange not to do your daily run.

Making habits can drastically change your life. Consider a habit you would like to have, and do it for 30 days starting from tomorrow. You won’t regret it.

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