It is a fact that you are your habit. Some habits are conducive to success while others are reasons for failure. A habit is a behavior that people do unconsciously for it has become a part of their persona. Forming a habit is done through constant repetition which closely links the stimulus to the response.
Habits begin during your formative years by observing people around you. As you interact closely with your parents, they become your role model. Physical habits are formed easily. Others are due to your kind of personality, experience and education.
A physiological explanation of habits is as follows: To respond to a stimulus, the brain sends an order to the body through the various nerve cells. If such actions or thoughts are done again and again, neural pathways are created and the more often the repetition, the stronger the connection becomes as it also widens the pathway. Due to constant repetition, the biochemical resistance to particular actions and thoughts are weakened. Brains are susceptible to form new habits as it easily builds and recognizes neural patterns. It is like repainting an area with several coatings which makes the painting difficult to remove; same way for the neural patterns. It follows that the longer the habit, the more difficult to eradicate.
Form only good habits and break the bad ones using these tips:
- Have strong determination in eliminating bad behaviours and forming good ones. Mentally focus on how damaging they can be for you or the benefits of good habits.
- List down the benefits of good habits. Be committed to breaking bad habits or forming a good one. You alone can do this and no one else can do it for you. Every time you fail, stand up and move on.
- Focus on attaining your goal. Is it good health? (stop smoking); is it losing weight? (exercise and follow your diet). Give yourself a treat for success. Create visual awareness by writing your goal down and post these notes around your house. If you want to lose weight, stick a picture of a girl with a marvellous figure at the door of your fridge
- Habits are not changed overnight. Walk slowly but surely towards your goal. But be consistent in whatever you have to do. For example, there are days when you feel lazy to exercise; well, you can go jogging with friends, swimming or even dancing. Variety can lessen the boredom; use your ingenuity!
- Get a support group; good friends are your cheerleaders to motivate achieving your goal.
- Achieving success is not the end; you have to strive continuously to better your lifestyle.
The goal of forming a habit; good ones at that and getting rid of bad ones is not easy. The good news is that you can use a goal setting website that can help you keep focus on your goal.