The first step to forming a new habit is to show up. You cannot workout in a gym if you don’t go to gym. You cannot practice playing the guitar if you don’t pick it up. You cannot run a marathon if you don’t practice running the first 100 meters. You cannot complete a degree if you don’t show go to your university or login into your online account.
For years, I wanted to start exercising and improve my health but there was always something in the way. It was too expensive. It is too far. It would be awkward. Maybe next month. Only if I find someone else to workout with. There was always an excuse. Then we moved to a building that had a gym. I went there occasionally but could not build a habit. Then suddenly I started to workout regularly. What changed? I made two small changes.
I made a newer, easier habit. When I returned from work, I would only allow myself to change into my workout clothes. Then when it came time to workout, it was easier because there was one less thing to do. I was already in my workout clothes.
The second change was that I did not force myself. If I didn’t feel like exercising, I could simply walk downstairs to the gym and come back or workout for 5 minutes. At this point you are probably thinking what is the point of going to the gym and exercising for 5 minutes or less. Why not workout a whole hour when I am already there. If I do that, then I would be less willing to go next day. I tried that common sense approach but then I would not be motivated to go the next day, next week, next month. By making it very easy, I was “practicing to show up”. It worked. I got into the habit of going to the gym regularly. I started enjoying it and gradually increased the time I spent there.
If you want to get into the habit of flossing your teeth everyday, make is simple for yourself. Put the floss next to your food on the dinner table. When you are done eating, floss one tooth. Two weeks later, start doing two teeth. Overtime, it will become a habit and you will feel uneasy until you floss after dinner. Simple.
If you want to get into the habit of reading a book every day. Simply place the book on your pillow. Start by reading fun stuff. Even comic books are fine. Just read one or a few pages everyday. Gradually, you will get into the habit of reading before going to sleep. You will enjoy it.
To make meaningful changes in your life, you have to make small changes every day. There small changes accumulate over time and make you a better you. Any action taken everyday forms a habit. Habits are hard to break. Both good and bad habit are hard to break. To form any habit, start by practicing to show up.