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How do you become the woman you’ve always wanted to be? The answer can be found in the things you do every day. Whether you realize it or not, your habits shape who you are. And there’s something so freeing about that. 

You don’t have to wait for some major moment to step into your destiny. You can evolve and grow at your own pace by doing one small thing each day. 

Just as there are things you automatically do each day without a second thought, there are new things you can do until they become a part of your routine.

 

You Have the Power to Change

As with most things, the ability to build healthy habits begins in the mind. Once you slow down and examine what you’re currently doing, you can determine which bad habits need to be replaced with good ones. There is a science to this process. Just as a dying plant must be uprooted before a thriving plant can grow in its place, you must first make room in your life for something fresh to take root.

What does this look like practically? I want you to list out the steps of your daily routine. Take inventory of what you do on most days. Then, write down how each habit makes you feel. If you hit the snooze button several times before waking up and jump right on your phone, ask yourself how doing so impacts your morning and the rest of your day. 

Now, I don’t want you to feel shame or embarrassment if you’re not where you want to be. This is a process, and you’re simply preparing to break new ground in your life. Allow your assessment of current habits to inform you of possible areas of growth.

How to Build Healthy Habits

According to Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit,” a habit loop includes three components: cue, routine, and reward. In the same way that your alarm going off in the morning can lead you to consistently hit the snooze button, you can choose to put a new habit loop in its place. How much better would your mornings be if you moved your phone across the room the night before? Now, when you hear your alarm go off (cue), you’re prompted to fully wake up each day before turning off your alarm (routine), lowering your chances of hitting the snooze button. Over time, you automatically get up when your alarm goes off and benefit from starting your day on time (reward).

It’s going to take a true commitment to change and consistency, but you can form healthy habits by:

  • Starting small: Pick one habit that you will consistently pursue. Dedicate your efforts to one new habit and integrate it at a manageable pace. Only move on to another habit after the current habit becomes a part of your rhythm and routine.
  • Tracking your habits: Use a habit tracker like the one found in my Daily Tracker, or download a habit-tracking app, to keep track of your progress and build momentum on your journey.
  • Adding in support: Place yourself in environments and communities that inspire you to keep going. Give yourself every advantage to succeed in building new habits.
  • Celebrating your wins: Have markers for each habit you go after. If you want the scale to show a specific number, acknowledge the pounds you lose until you reach that goal. Your commitment to yourself will cause your confidence to soar.

Staying the Course

It’s important to remember that you will have off days, especially as you begin to do something different. There will be days when you won’t have the strength to keep going. One of the best things I’ve done on my habit-building journey is give myself grace. I tell myself that I can get back on track while acknowledging my very real life moments. If you recognize that hard moments will come from the onset of your journey, you’ll be more likely to pivot and speak life over yourself when you feel like giving up.

When you lack the motivation to keep going, tell yourself that you are worth the investment. Eventually, the habits you put in place now will improve your quality of life and the quality of your relationships.

Implementing new habits will take time and perseverance, but it’s so worth it. It’s time to realize the potential of who you were created to be. 

Here’s to building habits that last.

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Understanding the science of habits
  • Automating daily rhythms and routines
  • Being in the right environment
  • Letting go of perfectionism

Related Resources

Check out these books on building habits:

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Other Stuff to Check Out

Let’s Talk!

  1. Which habits are keeping you from being your best self?
  2. What healthy habits can you replace your old habits with?
  3. What support do you need to put in place to stick with your habits? Which environments would help you stay motivated in your journey? The gym? A small group?

 

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