Know your triggers
If you're struggling to get into a good habit (or break a bad one), look around and see if you can do things a little differently.
There are things we do everyday that become so automatic we’re hardly aware we’re doing them.
Like when you sit down outside at your favourite café and light up a cigarette, or our get home from work and head straight for the fridge, or the couch, or the iPad, or you look at Facebook as soon as you you wake up.
Every day our physical environment shapes our actions.
Change your environment
Finding ways to disrupt your environment can help you tackle bad behaviours, and make it easier to adopt better ones.
If you’re looking at your phone in bed you can remove the temptation completely by recharging it in another room. If you smoke as soon as you have a coffee, then why not sit inside?
Other ways to change your habit environment and help you succeed include:
- Hanging out with people who are doing the habit you want to do.
- Have only healthy things around you. Prepare them in advance, when you’re not tired.
- Block websites that distract you, if you’re trying to procrastinate less.
- Have a habit partner you report to each day, and make a vow never to miss.
Read more about changing your habit environment.