Let's Get You Back on the Horse
Tips to getting back to your good habits.
We all know the benefits of developing good habits and we try hard to stick with them but the simple truth is that some days are just better than others. Don’t beat yourself up! There are lots of ways to help you get back on the horse.
Focus on Now
We know there is a vast body of research that shows how beneficial habits can be. We tend to have an extreme and all or nothing mentality, and we take these benefits as pressure and not forgive ourselves when we screw up for a day. Practice mindfulness and you’ll only focus on the now. Don’t worry about yesterday, just care about today and try to make the best of it. Remember that every day is new and it has nothing to do with yesterday.
The Chain Method
The great comedian Jerry Seinfeld has a terrific trick to keeping habits. Jerry has always produced a level of consistency that we all wish we had in our daily lives. One of his great tricks to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker. Each day after you perform a task you put a big red X. After a few days you’ll have a chain. That chain will continue to get longer and you’ll find more motivation not to break the chain.
The Paper Clip Method
Another great way to stick to habits is the paper clip method from James Clear. (I wrote a post about how I took this habit and converted it into a clicker). This was the story of a successful salesman who had two jars on his desk. One was filled with paperclips and the other was empty. Each time he made a sales call, he’d move one paper clip into the other jar until they were all gone. Keeping good habits comes down to a simple truth - it’s a result of committing to fundamentals over and over again.
Start Small
Big changes can often require a high level of motivation that isn’t sustained. Start with tiny habits in the beginning. Taking a daily short walk, for example, could be the beginning of an exercise habit. Or, put an apple in your bag every day could lead to better eating habits. We form new habits when we clear away the obstacles that get in the way. By starting small, you eliminate most obstacles allowing you to form these habits daily, gain confidence, and grow from there.
I hope these help you stick with your new habits. Remember, no matter how you push the ball forward, you are moving.
I’d love your feedback and any other ideas that work for you to build new habits.
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Two more things before you go….
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Welcome to all the new subscribers - thank you! I’ve hit my goal of 50 subscribers and now I aim to get to 100 by the end of next month. If you enjoy this newsletter, please share this post and thegogetter with friends. Many thanks.
Have comments or thoughts for me about the GoGetter? - please share.
Two more things before you go….
I have a twitter account called @thegogetter2020 where I share articles I like about personal growth. Go ahead and follow if that’s your thing.
Welcome to all the new subscribers - thank you! I’ve hit my goal of 50 subscribers and now I aim to get to 100 by the end of next month. If you enjoy this newsletter, please share this post and thegogetter with friends. Many thanks.