By Alita Pacio
Raise your hand if you agree with this. We all have bad habits we want to leave behind, from going to bed late, eating unhealthy snacks spending too much time on social media or impulsive buying.
Breaking bad habits and replacing them with positive ones isn`t always as easy as it seems.
But don`t fret yet! This article is your snappy guide to cultivating positive habits to improve your life.
Define Habits
Habits can be positive patterns in our daily routines like making your bed, drinking lots of water or destructive patterns such as constantly being distracted by your phone while working. Charles Duhigh put it best in his book: Simply put, a habit is a behaviour that starts as a choice, and then becomes a nearly unconscious pattern. When you do things automatically, they become a habit.
Every habit – no matter how simple or complex – has the same structure, which we call the “habit loop.” There is a cue, a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode. Then there is the routine, which can be physical or mental or emotional behaviour. Finally, there is a reward.
Once you understand how habit loops work, you can start changing them.
Setting boundaries is the key to strong habits
So, you get the momentum of slowly building your routine. You are determined to stay consistent on your daily exercise but the world can get in the way such as the weather, your friends and your work.
Instead of going out for a run, you stayed at home instead because it’s too cold outside. Your work keeps you all night finishing a report, and before you know it, your routine is disrupted.
You can save yourself from this by setting boundaries.
For a habit to stick, you have to set strong boundaries and learn how to say no to things and people that are not aligned to your priorities.
Acknowledge that you are in control of your time and your life. Reflect on your limitations, barriers and priorities. Enforce boundaries to your pushy salesman or cut unnecessary conversations with your colleagues.
Positive habits you can start with
Read Books
Reading books is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of improving your life.
By reading people’s pursuits, journeys and inspiring stories, you can widen your horizons and perspectives. It connects us with the other world and gets us to understand different things.
I have amassed confidence in myself when I started reading books.
Often, when I put down a book, I am left inspired and itching to make my life better. One book can change a person’s life. Choose what’s best for you and get ready to transform your life.
If you have no idea where to start, I compiled this list of inspirational books for you.
“Great Reading Spots To Enjoy A Good Book”
Make your bed
Making your bed may sound simple but it has a profound effect on our lives.
I don’t know about you but when I find myself spiralling down to messy thoughts and disorder, often, because I did not make my bed.
When I have a rushed morning, it affects my day ineffectively. US Navy Admiral, William H. McRaven explained best in his speech why making your bed is essential.
Journaling
Journaling is a way to be creative. It can be a way to build confidence and the source of your accomplishments.
Journaling helps process your thoughts and emotions, understand and acknowledge them. It is a way to communicate with yourself.
Listen to your inner voice and listen to your intuitions. It can positively impact your life by knowing yourself better, and most especially bring you closer to your goals and dreams.
Do you see it now? There’s a lot of good benefits of journaling.
And if you build it as a habit, watch the magic of improving your life.
Affirmation
Affirmations are using your words in a positive way. Create your own affirmations, may it be about finance, career, self-love and self-care, and make it a habit to say them out loud every day. Create sentences that reflect the result you want like “I am full of ideas” or “I attract money easily”.
The words you use carry power and don’t underestimate them.
If you affirm something and repeat it over and over, you are creating your reality. You plant words and they will eventually develop as a reality.
I truly believe in the power of affirmations. Use positive words and a positive attitude. If you shift your attitude, your life shifts too.
Here are some awesome affirmations:
I am loved, cared and worthy.
I am creative and full of ideas I am a magnet of money.
I attract abundance, positivity and happiness.
I am a good communicator.
I love my job and I enjoy doing it.
The goal of cultivating positive habits is to be the best version of yourself
Remember that building good habits is about improving yourself and being authentic. Be the best version of yourself and strive for progress, not perfection. Good luck on your journey to building good habits.
What to read next?
You’ve just read cultivating positive habits to improve yourself. Why not continue reading more inspirational blog posts like this?
Head over to Share to Inspire Blog. Ali, the creator of Share to Inspire blog, created this platform so more and more women can be inspired and empowered to start their own personal growth journey. She focuses on relationships, finance, and productivity. You can also see a glimpse of Life in Japan.
Be sure to catch Alita on Instagram, join her Facebook group, follow her on Pinterest and Twitter.
