Tips To Start A Routine and Follow It
We often hear this saying, ‘Change Is The Only Constant’ but it’s easier said than done. Some of us are receptive to change easier than others. When there’s a new season or phase in your life that calls for a different daily routine, it is difficult to adapt sometimes. Being a new parent or getting rid of old habits are some of the new phases one could face. So here are some tips to get you started on a new routine and how to follow it.
#1 Acceptance
Acceptance requires understanding. Allow yourself to reflect and be kind to your current season whether it is exciting or dreadful. From acceptance itself you will start to see, anticipate and embrace the change that is about to come.
#2 Identify what needs to be changed
Identify the unhealthy habits you wish to change in your life and write them down. Make a list of what are the consequences if you stay in your old ways, and what are benefits you will reap if you change. It could be, the need to be consistent with exercise as it helps your mental health or you need to change your career course so that you can spend more time with your family. Identifying helps you to recognize the priorities and shift them so they are aligned with your actions.
#3 Create A Plan
Now that you have identified your priority and understand what needs to be changed, the next step is to create a game plan. This is the plan that will help you achieve your goal. Remember, set a realistic plan so that you can put it into action. Planning is merely a to-do phase that looks great on paper but the result depends on you. What sets you apart from other planners are purpose, a realistic timeline, and actionable steps. Take it day-by-day and slowly move your tasks to Doing and eventually Done.
#4 Follow Through with the right mindset
After I pour my cup of coffee each morning, I want to meditate for one minute. Usually, I just sit and enjoy my morning coffee, but now I want to incorporate meditation into my routine. This is what we called habit stacking advised by James Clear.
He wrote in his article, “When it comes to building new habits, you can use the connectedness of behavior to your advantage. One of the best ways to build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behavior on top.”
As much as setting a plan can help with starting a new routine, having the right mindset will definitely help you to follow through regardless of any obstacles that surface in your life. Tricks like habit stacking and the right mindset will aid you to follow through with your new routine more efficiently.
#5 Celebrate progress not success
Going through a transition of seasons or starting a different routine is not an easy feat. So, the reward system really helps. Having small wins after you’ve accomplished a small task helps to motivate you further to complete more tasks, eventually inching you closer to your goals. A great system that encourages the reward system is the pomodoro technique. It gives you that intensive focus time and rewards you with break time.
Reward yourself with a 5-minute break after you have fully focused on a task for one good hour. This is an instance of the technique and you can read more on how this time management system hack enhances productivity and instills urgency here.
We hope these 5 tips have been beneficial for you to open up your perspective towards change, starting a routine, and following it through.
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