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The Hard Part is not to Make a Decision but to Follow Through on ItMany a time we only manage to follow through on our commitments for a couple of days. Then, we abandon them and fall back into our old routine. In this article, I will try to determine how we can increase our chances of staying committed to your new habits. Start by Choosing a New HabitFirst of all, you are to have a clear idea of how you will benefit from a new habit So, grab a sheet of paper and write down answers to these questions:
This quote from Nietzsche sums up the idea perfectly: He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how. It may be helpful to associate a strong emotion with your why (e.g. an emotion that will help you stay motivated and reach your goal). It can be pride, confidence in yourself, or even a feeling of fullness. If necessary, visualize yourself in the state you want to reach (as if you already had the resources you want to acquire). Very well. Now, let’s adopt a habit. Study 1 hour and 30 minutes every dayWe advise you to start small. You will probably be tempted to prove to yourself that you can follow a new habit. Unfortunately, your resolve will be gone in 3 days after having realized that you’ve set the bar too high. Imagine wanting to become a marathon runner overnight. You are motivated and going to train really hard on the very first day. You think you need to get into the habit of running a marathon (about 42 km) and decide to run that distance. However, even if you manage to do that, you’ll most certainly be disgusted the next day and start thinking about quitting. Moral of this story: start small! Take Small Steps!Don’t go the whole distance on the very first day. Study 15 to 20 minutes. Later on, you will gradually increase the duration. You have all the time in the world, so don't rush it! If you put too much effort into it, you risk ending up disappointed. Never make this mistake! And do not focus too much on the results. Instead, concentrate on automating your habit. Dedicate a Time Slot to Your HabitSet a fixed time and complete your task every day at that time. The best way to quit is to have a habit that you follow once in the morning, once in the evening, and once in the afternoon. There will come a day when you will be so "busy" that you won’t have time to follow through on your it at all (we've all been there!) It is also a bad idea to pick up several new habits at the same time. Master the one you’re really passionate about and then move on to the next one on your list. Give Yourself a RewardWe advise you to give yourself a reward every time you complete a habit. It can be anything as long as it makes you happy and does not hurt your habit (of course, if your habit is to eat healthier and your reward is to eat at Mcdonald's, there is something wrong here). Make Staying Committed to Your Habit a Daily VictoryYou should achieve the following state of mind: being committed to your habit every day is a victory. That way, you’ll be able to get a little closer to making your new habit stick. The more frequently you do something, the less effort you need to repeat this task and the more your future habit becomes automatic and unconscious. Avoid Missing a Habit for More Than 2 Days in a RowIt may so happen that you won’t be able to perform the task associated with your habit one day. It’s not good but it is not the end of the world. The next day, continue as usual. You’ll be tempted to make up lost ground but that will be a mistake. Remember, missing a day is not really important if you’re determined to maintain the habit for 6 months, 1 year, 10 years or even a lifetime! That said, you still shouldn’t miss more than two days in a row! This would be the beginning of the end of your new habit. Take a Public CommitmentTalk to your parents, friends or classmates about your new habit. Make a public pledge to follow through on your new habit. This way, you will have someone who can remind you about your habits and support you in your beginnings.
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