Habit

Habit is described as a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. We use habits such as brushing our teeth, getting dressed, or driving to work to free up our minds for more creative and complex thoughts. Most habits such as brushing our teeth are benign and serve us. Others, like smoking, snacking, or biting your nails; not so much. We fall prey to the short-term pleasure over the long-term problem. Often, we find ourselves doing it in the midst of the habit. How did that happen? We didn’t even realize we had commenced. So how in the world can we overcome such ingrained patterns?

There are a multitude of books out there but alas, the individual who ignore long term problems for short term pleasure is unlikely to read through an entire book and stick to a formula. Once again, you need to break it into chucks. A quick short habit is easier to follow through on than a formula.

• What is the problem or habit you would like to change? When do you do it? What are the triggers? Triggers come in all shapes and sizes: location, emotional state, people, or prior action. How will you know when you have conquered the issue? Understanding the problem is the first step to overcoming it. Know thy enemy. Be specific. Wiggle room and vagueness is the leading cause of failure.
• Set yourself up for success. If you know your triggers, you can avoid them. If you can’t avoid them, can you insert another habit that is healthier? Water, tea, or decaffeinated coffee is healthier than full octane. Let people know that you are working on changing a habit. A true friend will want to encourage your success. Give them rules of engagement such as questioning your choices if they are counter to your goal or applauding you when you make the choice in line with your goal. Friends need to know what will support your process and what will simply piss you off.
• What is your plan for failure? Failure is a part of life. Edison is reputed as saying he knew a thousand ways of not making a lightbulb. We need to change how we look at failure. Failure will happen. It will serve us best when we learn from it.
• Be Mindful. Mindfulness is not just some airy-fairy thing. It is the non-judgmental observance of an action. It doesn’t help you to beat yourself up every time you transgress. If you transgress, simply notice. What were the triggers? Did you stop or continue? Answering these questions will help you in the future.
• Repetition. Repetition. Change it up. Do it fast or slow. Change the location.

We live within our habits. They make our lives easier or harder. They can open our minds up to more creative and complex actions. They can soothe but they shouldn’t rule us. By changing our habits to more beneficial patterns, we can be more efficient, productive, and relaxed. We can live the life we design.