Fresh Start 2011 ~ Habit: Correction

December is our FRESH START month and we are devoting our posts to making a fresh start in 2011!  This week we are talking about habits.  Yesterday, we spent some time reflecting on our habits. Today, we are going to work on correcting those bad habits.  There are some things I’ve learn in my attempts to correct bad habits…

5 LESSONS for HABIT CORRECTION:

1 – You have to REALLY want to change

I don’t know how many times I’ve theoretically wanted to lose weight or become healthier.  I say “theoretically” because I liked the idea of being more fit, but deep down I didn’t really want to make this change.  There is a difference between having an idea of wanting something and really wanting something.  In order to correct a bad habit, you must really want it.  If you want to quit smoking, you have to REALLY want to quit.  If you want to lose 20 lbs, you have to REALLY want to become healthier.  If you want to get more sleep, you have to REALLY want it.  When you REALLY want to change, you’ll actually start to make changes to your life.  Otherwise, it’s just daydreaming.

2 – You have to MAKE a CHOICE

Ultimately, life is all about choices.  You can choose one habit or another.  And, that’s all there is.  I can choose to go to sleep at 11pm every night, or choose to go to sleep at 3am every night.  I can choose to eat a banana or a block of cheese.  A good habit is a daily choice.  A bad habit is a daily choice.  What do you choose daily?

3 – You have to TAKE the FIRST step

Once you have that burning desire to make a change in your life, it’s hard to ignore it.  That deep desire is what propels you in forward motion to make a change.  DOING is equally important to REALLY wanting.  The first step, even if it’s small, is pivotal in correcting your habit.  For me, being in bed at 10pm is the first step in making sure that I am asleep by 11pm.  And, the first night I did it was a critical step in turning a bad habit into a good habit.  Determine what the FIRST STEP is and when you will make that first step.

4 – DO

DO IT.  It sounds so simple, but we all know it’s not.  It’s so hard to make that first step.  It’s soooo hard to put on my gym clothes in order to go for a walk.  It’s sooooo hard to turn off Twitter in order to go to bed.  We have a thousand excuses.  But, ultimately, we must just DO.  Good habits stem from actions.

5 – BE

We must BE what we want to be.  Being is a state of mind and we must believe in what we want for ourselves.  We trick ourselves into thinking that we are our bad habits, “Oh – I’m a night owl!”  “Oh – I just love cheese!”  “Oh – I’m not athletic!”  (These are all things I tell myself ALL the time.)  But, we have to reverse our thoughts on our habits.  We must BE our good habits.  It may not be as exciting to be virtuous and describe myself as “I’m someone who sleeps 8 hours every night.”  (WOW – that sounds soooo boring!)  But, if we want to develop good habits that carry on into our personal and professional lives, we need to BE the people with good habits.  I am rested.  I am healthy.  I am smart.  What are you?

Be kind to yourself…

Don’t be hard on yourself if this is challenging.  Overcoming a bad habit is NOT easy.  Just take each day as it comes.