Everyone partakes in some kind of bad habit, whether it be chewing fingernails or leaving the kitchen light on. It might seem that a bad habit is alarmingly easy to adopt. This is probably because a bad habit is something we fall into as a coping mechanism, while a good habit is something we must consciously build and maintain.
Think about your daily habits and how they serve you. Do you brush your teeth? I bet you do! What is your reason for doing so? How do you feel if you skip a brushing session or even an entire day? Hygiene is a form of self-care. If we are so faithful to take care of our dental health, why might it sometimes be harder to keep up a meditation habit?
I wonder why people like to call meditation a practice rather than a habit. And keeping up a running routine is often considered training, rather than a habit. At any rate, all consistently repeated activities fall under the category of habitual action. The way they are categorized gives them their distinct connotation.
Our mental health thrives on habitual action. Habits are vital to our professional success, as they support how we do or don’t show up as unique individuals and team members in the workplace. It is important to kick back and assess the everyday elements of our lives once in a while. We can approach this in a supportive, accepting way rather than with self-criticism.
Where are you falling short? What do you know is a healthy habit you could incorporate into your daily or weekly calendar, but for some reason are not (yet) doing so?
We tend to make excuses for why we don’t adopt good habits. I know this to be true from personal experience. I have gone through eras of getting so overwhelmed by the endless stimulation of the job hunt that I have determined—either consciously or subconsciously—that I didn’t have time to get my nightly workout in. I sleep much better after my workout so why would I not stay consistent?
Perhaps this self-punishment, born of a warped inner dialogue, goes something like this:
“I missed a day so now I failed. I don’t deserve to succeed so I shouldn’t even try.”
This is screwed up thinking. Would we talk like this to someone we love? I think not! So give yourself a break by making loving self-talk a habit.
Replace the negativity with something more like this:
“I missed a day and that is alright. I am generally on track. I love and care for myself.”
After all, when we take good care of ourselves, we can give our best energies to others with a relaxed and open heart.
While we might not be as regimented as AI, we are fully capable of programming ourselves.
How long does it take to form a habit in everyday life? At least 3 weeks is the general consensus. That’s not a huge amount of time, but consistent dedication could change your life!
What are your goals for adopting good habits? You might consider getting up early and working out, eating no later than 2 hours before bed, or just getting to bed on time. Did you know that your confidence is multiplied when you follow through on your own personal commitments? Furthermore, did you know that you can get more done in higher quantities and with higher quality when your confidence is soaring?
The problem with good habits is that situations can change. Sometimes we need to adjust our habits even if they are beneficial ones. One good habit might not serve well in all settings.
Therefore, it is important to avoid becoming too rigid with even our good habits.
Say that we didn’t bring our toothbrush on an impromptu overnighter.
Will this ruin our experience?
What if we are visiting friends and spend the day doing fun and interesting things, but miss out on our daily run?
Will we be grouchy and resentful?
Habits must have some kind of flexibility while remaining an overall firm foundation. Actually, a firm foundation gives the basis for allowing the occasional skip and miss. Say you usually eat a healthy high-fiber low-fat diet, and then one night enjoy a milkshake when out on the town. You will surely bounce back after the little splurge. The milkshake does not become the habit. In passing, it is an exception, and therefore a worthy celebration!
Habits bring balance to life.
Pick up some good habits, instill them, and glean the results.
It all starts with a single thought.
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