How to Learn and Maintain Good Habits

Let's face it, we all have our vices and bad habits. Unfortunately, too many of us focus on the "bad" and rarely discuss the "good". For anything good to happen in your life, you must focus on the good, expect the good and think good thoughts! Good habits follow the same formula.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Make a list of 3 simple good habits you would like to have happen in your life. You want to start out simple and you want to start out with the easy stuff. By conquering the shallow water, it will prepare you to swim in the deep water. So, keep your good habits simple (e.g., flossing at least once a day, memorizing a positive quote/Biblical scripture daily, returning e-mails as you receive them).

2. There is a famous saying, "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve." You can have and be what you want. Often times, many people start too many "changes" and fail because they are overwhelmed by them. This is why so many people fail with their New Year's Resolutions. They pick too many, difficult ones, and ones to replace negative behaviors or addiction which they first need to get a handle on. Picking 3 simple good habits will provide success and the courage to move onto bigger good habits. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, neither were you!

3. On average according to experts, it takes at least 21 days to eliminate a bad habit and 21 days to create a good one. If you do either/or the unconscious mind will process as reality and become habituated to it. It will expect your conscious mind to carry out the process whether it be good or bad. Basically, the more you do something, the more proficient you become at it like possessing a skill or talent. It becomes "habit"! Expect and want to try your "good" habits for the next 21 days.

4. Keep a log or calender of your daily successes. Each day, check it off that mission is complete. Should for any reason you miss or skip a day, get right back in there immediately. Laziness and procrastination lead to bad habits and failure. Isn't this why you chose 3 simple easy habits in the first place because you wanted to prove you could succeed?

5. At the end of the 21 days, and you "good habits" in tact, you can now move onto 1 or 2 more difficult positive goals/habits. Keep your already successful good habits. Believe in yourself and believe in the achievement of your goals. Always remember, there are no great people, there are people who do great things. Guess what? They first started out mastering the small stuff before moving onto the big things. If they can do it, so will you!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't try to eliminate many bad habits while at the same time taking on good ones. Get rid of the bad first. Stay away from the bad for at least 21 days before starting the good. Did you know, getting rid of a bad habit is the same as gaining a good habit. You can substitute a good habit (activity) for a bad one. Instead of watching TV for 5 hours a day, supplement the time with reading or walking.
• Don't listen to others negativity and discouragement.