Do you want to change something in your life but aren’t quite sure where to start? Or maybe you start new habits but don’t stick with them for longer than a couple of weeks? If so, this post is for you. Today, I’m going over my top three steps for creating habits that stick. 

1. Pick One Habit

Start small and keep it simple. Pick one or two habits you want to focus on and make sure they are simple and straightforward. For instance, maybe you want to start exercising, eating healthier or drinking less alcohol. Focus on one primary habit. Once you have that habit down, then you can move onto another, if you desire. But, it is really hard to succeed if you are trying to change everything at once. 

So, think about: what main, singular thing do you want to change or focus on in 2021? Then set your mind solely on that one thing. 

2. Be Specific

Now that you have your one habit in mind, it’s time to get specific. Very specific. The more specific, the better. For instance, instead of stating that you want to exercise, get clear about when and how you are going to make it happen. In practice, let’s say you specify that you are going to do a 30-minute strength training workout three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) at 6am. In order to make that happen, you will schedule it in your calendar, set out your exercise clothes the night before, set an alarm on your phone and go to bed earlier.

If you can’t visualize exactly how you are going to make the change in your life, then it probably won’t happen. So, being very specific, and possibly even writing it down, can help you see lasting results. Make sure to include what exactly you will be doing, when you will be doing it, and what needs to be in place in order for that habit to happen. 

3. Get Motivated 

Focus on the immediate reward you get from changing a habit. This is one of the keys to staying motivated and creating habits that stick. Let’s take the exercise example… what are you immediately gaining from waking up at 6am to exercise? Maybe it’s the endorphin rush you feel after the workout or the increased energy you have throughout the rest of your day. Maybe you have an audio book you only listen to while exercising and that is your immediate reward for getting a workout in. Whatever it is, just make sure that it rings true for you. 

In practice, I wake up between 5:45-6am every day to practice kundalini yoga. Some mornings, I really just want to sleep in, but then I think about my motivation. My personal motivation is the calm and clarity I immediately feel after doing my yoga practice. It is a peacefulness I don’t often feel the rest of the day, especially as a mom with two small kids. So, that peaceful feelings is my motivation to get out of bed. I focus on my gains (immediate peace, clarity, and a sense of vitality) instead of what I am giving up (an extra hour of sleep). This change in mindset has made all the difference in being able to stick to this habit shift.

The ultimate reward is going to be different for everyone. So make sure you figure out what gets you motivated. I can’t stress enough how important this step is. Without this step, it is super easy to fall off your progress. But with this step, it can make changing habits for the long-run more realistic and doable.