FORGET RESOLUTIONS, DO MICRO-HABITS INSTEAD

The start of the new year means people (you included) are making resolutions to go to the gym, eat better, spend less money, read more… the list goes on. Wanting to better yourself is all good but the problem with making resolutions? Many of us will fail before March rolls by.

Why?

Because there is a huge difference between being resolute about wanting change and actually doing something to make it happen. A lot of times, many of our new year resolutions are grandiose ideas – we want to be healthier, we want to be successful, we want to be better versions of ourselves. Great… but ask yourself this, what do you need to do to make it all happen? Also, how far and long are you willing to go to achieve your resolution, and where exactly do you cross the finish line (how healthy? How successful? Better how?)

The number one reason why resolutions fall short is that they focus only on outcomes. We forget to set out what we need to do to achieve them.

Enter micro-habits. You know, the tiny, everyday habits you do that steer you towards the big results. Why do micro-habits work? Unlike resolutions that seem all lofty and even time consuming, micro-habits are easy to incorporate into your life.

Take this for example: Say you want to eat better. You go on an overhaul diet, making huge changes that your body – and mind – might not be ready for. It all works out fine at first, then you start getting busy, your willpower wanes, and your well-intentioned plans to eat better starts evaporating.

But with micro-habits, you are taking small steps, one at a time. Instead of a total overhaul, you start by cutting excess sugar from your diet. Then you take another step and start eating more wholegrains and veggies instead. Eating healthily starts to feel natural over time, and eventually, it becomes a normal part of your routine.

See how much more effective micro-habits are compared to resolutions? Also, consider the fact that habits are automatic routines that already make up 40% of your daily activity – you do them quickly without thinking because it feels natural. And once you get the hang of them, not doing your habit feels like something is missing! Case in point: If you’ve made a 30-minute walk before work something you do every day, imagine waking up and going on about your life without this walk – you’ll feel like something’s completely off, right? Now that is the power of micro-habits!

But like everything else, you need to know exactly how micro-habits work to your advantage. It’s one thing to say you want to try this new habit… another to actually get the habit to stick!

Start with a small action or thought you desire to do. Make your first step towards adopting micro-habits tiny and specific to increase your chances of success – like eating a piece of fruit every day.

Make sure it is easy to do! Want to start creating more content? Don’t go all out with difficult-to-achieve reels and video production! Make it easy at first – like an easy recipe – so you know what you need to start tackling the hard stuff.

Repeat, repeat, repeat. They are habits after all! This repetition will help make the habit more automatic.

Set yourself up for success. If you want to drink more water, go out and get yourself a huge water bottle, fill it up with water, and make sure it’s within reachable distance so you will always be able to reach out for it and drink more. Or if you want to exercise every morning. Go to bed early the night before so you will wake up feeling energized to exercise.

TRY THESE MICRO-HABITS TO KICKSTART 2024
Ready to make a real difference? Try these micro-habits and see how they can positively impact your life.

#1 Do some form of movement every day
Whether it is to walk up the stairs more or going for a walk around the block while listening to your fav podcast, making time to move around can be a great micro-habit to pledge to for a healthier you. It is definitely easier than pushing yourself at spin class that you might not even enjoy or signing up for an expensive gym membership. When it comes to exercise, make it fun, make it attainable, and make it easy to do. Start with three minutes, work it up to an additional five minutes every following week, and before you know it, you’ll have a full-blown exercise routine you love.

#2 Read five pages of a book
Want to read more? Don’t set an unreasonable goal; instead make it easy by breaking it down into smaller, bite-sized chunks by reading five pages a day (or even less!). It will take only a few minutes but you’ll still be making progress towards finishing that book. Give it a few weeks and you’ll find yourself making headway with your reading habit!

#3 Drink a glass of water first thing when you wake up
Forget those drink reminders or water trackers – build your habit of drinking more water with this micro-habit: Put a glass of water on your nightstand and when you wake up in the morning, pick it and drink it straight away. By starting your day with a little hydration, you will feel much better – and you will be more inclined to refill that glass throughout the day.

#4 Put things back when you’ve finished using them
Struggling with clutter? Make it a micro-habit to put things away after you’ve used them. Start with a single item – your toothbrush after brushing, your work bag straight into its place after coming home, your coffee mug washed and not in the sink. Creating this decluttering habit will help you with keeping your home tidy – a much-needed habit for mental wellbeing!

#5 Eat a fruit with every meal
So you can’t do a full salad for your meal. Why not try this instead – eat a fruit or veggie with every meal. Forget the all-or-nothing approach, incorporating this is going to be significantly easier but just as effective. And once you see how easy it is to make that small shift, you’ll be more encouraged to do more!

Are you already into micro-habits? Share some of your successes with us @Graduan!

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash.