As we approach a new year, many of us are thinking about fresh starts and new goals. But, as you probably know, simply setting goals or intentions isn’t enough to make real change. To create lasting transformation, you need to develop the right habits. In today’s post, I’ll guide you through how to pick the right habits for your personal growth and how to stay consistent with them throughout the year.
1. Start with Reflection and Planning
Habits are what actually create the change. Setting goals or intentions is great, but they won’t lead to results without the daily actions that come from good habits. So, before you decide on which habits to start, ask yourself: What do I really want to achieve this year?
For example, if you want to focus on building confidence, your habits will look very different from someone whose focus is managing anxiety. Tailor your habits to match your specific goals.
2. Pick Relevant Habits
Once you have a clear idea of your desired outcome, choose habits that align with it. Don’t try to overwhelm yourself by picking too many habits at once. If you pick a big list of 10 habits and try to do them all, you’ll likely find yourself feeling overwhelmed and giving up altogether. Many of us fall into an “all-or-nothing” mindset, where if we can’t do everything, we end up doing nothing at all.
Instead, pick one or two habits to focus on at first. When you’re consistent with them, then you can gradually add more. Progress is all about consistency, not overloading yourself right from the start.
3. Start Small and Build Up
I want to share my current habits to give you an idea of how you can build your own. Please remember, I’ve been working on my habits for years, so my list is longer than most people’s at the beginning of their journey. But I started small, just like I’m advising you to do.
Some of my daily habits include:
- Meditation
- Visualisation
- Journaling
- Reading
- Walking
- Self-care
- Vitamin supplements
I’ve made sure to attach certain habits to specific times of the day, like self-care in the evening and taking my supplements in the morning. Other habits, like reading, mindfulness, and visualisation, I fit in throughout the day, whether I’m brushing my teeth, getting dressed or walking. I even do meditation while washing up or in the shower.
By adding these habits into my daily routine, they’ve become second nature. The key to success is adding them to things you’re already doing. If you’re going to do things like cleaning or having a shower every day anyway, why not add a positive habit to those moments?
4. Track Your Habits for Consistency
The most important thing in developing new habits is consistency, and the best way to stay consistent is to track your progress. Without tracking, you’ll forget about the habits you set for yourself and lose motivation.
You can track your habits in various ways – on your phone, in a journal or with a physical habit tracker. The key is to check off each habit after you complete it. It’s motivating to physically mark your progress and it helps you stay accountable.
If you want to get serious about building and tracking your new habits, I highly recommend using my favourite online habit tracker, which you can see here. It’s a spreadsheet template that you can edit to add your own goals and track your progress each day, week and month. The tracker is called “Ultimate Habit Tracker” there are other trackers available on the website too, for example a mood tracker and financial tracker that you may find useful, they are all reasonably priced too! Use my code CALM15 for 15% off your order on Emily Excels.
Final Thoughts
Starting the new year with intentional habits can set you up for success. Remember, don’t try to do everything at once – focus on one or two habits and build from there. Consistency is key and tracking your habits will help you stay motivated and on track.