On habits that will make or break you…

Our habits, both good and bad, always deliver results. Some results we love, while others, we’re not so crazy about. The challenge is, we often don’t see the results of our habits right away. Your teeth don’t fall out because you missed a few days of flossing, nor can you build a successful business by just going to a couple of workshops.

Take a closer look at the results you have in your life, both positive and negative. With some examination, you’ll be able to deduce the habit(s) that created the result. For example:

• Negative result in my life: I’m always late getting to the office in the morning
• Habits driving result: Staying up too late watching Netflix, drinking too much, eating late night junk food

• Positive result in my life: My body is in great shape and conditioning
• Habits driving result: Regular runs and training at the gym; healthy diet

• Negative result in my life: High stress because I’m always rushing to get things done
• Habits driving result: Procrastination, lack of priorities and planning

If you don’t love the results you see in your life, this is great news! It means you can improve your results by improving your habits.

The other good news is, you only have to start with one habit change.

By focusing only on one, you increase the probability for the habit to stick long term. And, good habits naturally lead to more good habits, creating a chain reaction. Example: regular exercise leads to better eating, which leads to better sleep, which leads to waking up energized, which leads to getting to the office on time, and so on.

Step One: Get started

Start by making a list of positive habits you’d like to instill for a better future, and negative habits that are holding you back.

Example of habits that will impact your future positively:

• Drinking enough water
• Sleeping 7-8 hours a night
• Being fully present with friends and family
• Exercise
• Eating healthy
• Being on-time for appointments
• Being prepared for meetings
• Prioritizing and planning your day
• Setting goals
• Doing the planned work

Example of habits that are holding you back:

• Drinking/smoking too much
• Being late for meetings
• Not paying bills on times
• Avoiding difficult conversations
• Not setting clear boundaries
• Procrastinating
• Too much take-out/fast-food
• Skipping the gym
• Doing “busy” work
• Over-promising

Step Two: Choose ONE

Pro-tip: Choose ONE habit to change and get started. Determine what success looks like for starting or stopping this new habit. Track and create visual reminders. For more details on this, sign-up for my free training, The Motivational Method: Monthly Goals Training.

Step Three: Change your identity

Shift your inner dialogue around this habit. If you always tell yourself, “I’m never on time,” and it’s part of your identity, it’s going to be an uphill battle to make the change. Up-level your mantra to, “I’m good with time and arrive on time.” Adopt this new identity as part of who you are and your behaviors and results will follow.

The impact of our habits are cumulative – the longer we do them, the bigger difference it makes in our results. Habit cultivation, then, is a long game. You could even say it’s a habit within itself. Start with the one habit and you will build confidence, be encouraged to make more change, and reap the rewards for years to come.