Rapid Habit

Habit: an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary; addiction
(dictionary.com)

Good habits are hard to acquire but easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to acquire but hard to live with.
Think of it as a pair of shoes: you put them on in the morning, if they are comfortable, you can focus your day on many important things; otherwise, your discomfort gets worse by the hours, and you can't wait to end the day early, so you can go home and kick them off. Choose the right shoes before you continue your journey.


How did I acquire my habits?
A simple way to look at it is our desire for pleasure, and avoidance of pain. When we associate pleasure with certain behavior, we want to repeat it over and over, before we know it, it becomes a habit, a part of us.

How do I change?
1. Create an inventory of good and bad habits.
Look at your daily routines. What are the things you'd like to change? What are the problems that keep bugging you that can be fixed by a good habit? What habits are critical in achieving your goals, and what are preventing you from becoming successful? The list should also include the good habits that you have already established. So you can see how effortless it is to maintain a good habit and enjoy all the benefits they bring.

2. One habit at a time
You need focus to make it happen. Prioritize your list and pick one habit you want to work on. Certain habits can be grouped to form a routine. For example, go to bed before 10pm and get up at 6am, go to gym or meditate for 1 hour and eat a healthy breakfast. (Very ambitious. )

3. Give yourself a reward
Your reward should be proportional to the behavior you want to change. For example, if you want to get up early, a Rolex would be too much a prize for some of us . You can pick something you really enjoy doing once a week, or pick one item from your shopping list as your reward for accomplishing your goal. Don't ever reward bad behavior. Occasionally, a little punishment would be necessary. Here is one way of doing it: wear a rubber band on your wrist. Whenever you catch yourself repeating the old habit or having a negative thought, pull it back and let it go. (Ouch!)

How long does it take to form a good habit or break a bad one?
Usually you need 3-6 weeks to form a habit. During this time your brain will physically change its wiring to make the new habit part of your subconscious mind. It's like flying a plane. To leave the ground, you need lots of energy and determination. Once the plane climbs to a certain hight, it's on autopilot. And you get to your destination much faster than on foot. After a good habit is established, you can repeat it with ease and benefit from it for the rest of your life. Stick to it from 30 days and see your life transformed. What a bargain!

What if I go back to the old habit?
(Are you wearing the rubber band? Use it now. Done? Ok, here we go.)
When you are doing something different, there is a certain level of anxiety because of the unfamiliarity. However, it's dangerous to feel comfortable with a bad habit. People who are insensitive to pain can get badly injured without knowing it. For the same reason, your health, relationship, and success is at risk if you don't replace your bad habits with good ones. Keep in mind of the bigger picture. A little draw up is no excuse of giving up.

When shall I start?
The best time to start is yesterday, the second best time is NOW.

(Photos by cisley)