How to Start a New Habit That Actually Sticks

All behaviors, whether positive or negative, begin with a prompting action. A trigger mechanically initiates a behavior and prompts you to engage in another action. Using cues such as time of day, location, and circumstance in conjunction with your habit's stimulus will increase the likelihood that it will stay.

Utilize the trigger process to serve as a reminder when forming a new habit. A useful reminder encodes your new behavior into an action you already perform. For example: "Every day, I will meditate for five minutes before breakfast and after my shower." By incorporating your new habit into routine behaviors, it will be simpler to remember.Defining Here How to Start a New Habit That Actually Sticks.

How to Start a New Habit That Actually Sticks

1. Use a trigger.

"We are our recurrent actions. Therefore, excellence is not an act but a habit." 

Our behaviors can either make or destroy us when it comes to living a positive lifestyle. Our physical health, emotional well-being, and even outlook on life are determined by our habits. 

However, establishing a new healthful habit can be quite challenging. If you want to begin the new year with a habit that will last, consider the following advice.

2. Start small with your habits.

Lasting change is a product of daily habits, not once-in-a-lifetime transformations. It’s important to start your habits small so they’re easier to manage and can grow through time. 

First, decide what you want your new habit to be. Then, ask yourself how you can make this behavior so easy you can do it without thinking. Slowly build on that simple task, stick to a sustainable pace and be patient—big changes take time.

3. Keep a larger goal in mind.

Keep your immediate objectives modest, but don't forget to imagine large for the future. Determine your ultimate larger objective, and then create a plan with smaller actions to achieve it. Make larger objectives a reality by putting in a little effort each day.

By establishing a larger objective, you'll have something to keep in mind as you work daily on smaller actions. For instance, if your objective is to write a book, begin by journaling for 10 minutes per day, then gradually increase the amount of time and effort you devote to writing.

4. Reward yourself.

It is essential to maintain a positive attitude while forming new habits, and the best method to do so is to reward yourself for even the slightest achievements. If you complete an action and receive a positive recompense, you are more likely to repeat that action and establish a routine. This behavior becomes a habit upon sufficient repetition.

Reward yourself each time you engage in the desired behavior. This could consist of something as straightforward as congratulating yourself or rewarding yourself. 

 Also read: What Are 5 Benefits of Healthy Eating?

5. Get back on track quickly.

Nobody is flawless, and neither will you be when developing a habit. It is acceptable to make errors, but it is essential to get back on track as soon as possible. Instead of adopting an all-or-nothing mentality, plan for failure. It is acceptable to miss a habit once or twice, but you must be consistent enough to avoid doing it repeatedly and resume the habit as soon as feasible.

Develop the identity of a person who never misses a habit twice. Examine where your habit fails, then create an if-then plan. For instance, "If I forget to meditate in the morning, then I will meditate for five minutes when I get home from work."

On average, it takes 30 days to form a new habit, so don't be discouraged if you struggle initially. Maintain a positive attitude and a goal-oriented focus, and your new routine will become simpler.