Making Change Stick.
[Synopsis] - A group of us kicked off the year with vision in action boards for 2021 (see previous post), and we’re connecting every couple months to touch base on our goals. The most common obstacle to goal success is keeping on track once you’ve set them. In preparation for our next session, I was refreshing myself on the power of habit. If you’re looking for quick wins towards progress on your own goals, I suggest a read of a few of the books I recommend here. There are great tips for individuals and organizations on how to make habits, and change, stick. I also summarize a few suggestions on how to achieve small wins now. Helpful? Could make it better? Let me know your thoughts! #habitsforsuccess
Has Goals for 2021. Creates Vision in Action Board focused on action with set time. Sets Smart Goals aligned with vision - milestones tied to a date. One month later... Googles "how to make new change stick"
Change Management is complex - whether the focus is you, a team, or an organization. There’s no perfect mix to achieve growth and progress for absolutely everyone, but there are some “tried and tested” tools that can make a huge difference. One of my favorites - the power of habit - and it can help put change into motion, with the goal of making it stick.
There's a science to habits. The more you understand how they work and what your current existing habits are, the easier it is to capitalize on them in order to get to the goal you desire. Time can be a limiting factor when we have a goal of understanding our own habits and how they impede or enable our goal achievement, but with a few minutes of reflection, you can make some marked progress. My goal is to make it simple for you to take your vision & put it into action, using habits and the expertise of great minds (I reference them at the end of this article).
According to Cambridge Dictionary: Habit noun /ˈhæb.ɪt/ something that you do often and regularly sometimes without knowing that you are doing it.
My goal - for you to build awareness so you know what your habits are and how they impact your day-to-day goals.
Let’s start with the science.[Quick Synopsis on Habits] When researchers have looked at a new habit that has formed, they found that there was always a specific cue or stimulus (could be multiple), that starts a routine (a specific action) which ends with the same reward (a feeling or actual item). Example: you wake up in the morning at 7am to your phone alarm (cue), roll over read your phone alerts (routine), you feel informed and up to speed (reward). This is how a habit starts - as soon as we get that reward the first time, and we like it, we begin to crave it, even without knowing it, as soon as we are exposed to that specific cue. So now, my alarm goes off at 7am, and I immediately crave to look at my phone. (Not a great habit, I know - but something you can relate to I’m sure.)
Why do I need to know this? When we spend the time to understand these cues, we can identify and either replicate or adjust habits based on the cues and the cravings we identify that are related to those cues. We can then substitute a routine, ex: feel stressed --> get a donut --> feel relief. Instead it could be feel stressed --> go for a jog --> feel relief. Or even couple in a new habit to an existing one, ex: I eat the same breakfast every morning at 7:45 am, I want to add in meditation. So I add one minute of meditation at the end of that routine of breakfast, vitamins, and now meditation.
So how do I apply this? Think about your personal vision and the associated action steps or milestones you’ve put into place. Change is best taken in small bites, so how can you adjust one daily habit to incorporate something new (coupling) or change your routine (substitute) in order to achieve that milestone? I’m not identifying for you whether your existing habit patterns are positive or negative - only you can determine if a habit is aiding you towards your goal or not. But, if you take a few minutes to reflect at the beginning or end of each day about how your daily routine contributes or detracts from your goals, you can put in the small adjustments (the work) to get to where you want to go. It’s never easy, and we all have slip ups (I didn’t meditate today!) but, that’s part of the process and taking a breath to reflect on it allows us the space to get back on track.
Remember: to really commit to the habit, we need to have the belief. I BELIEVE vitamins work. I BELIEVE that my breakfast is making me healthier. I HAVE to BELIEVE that (1) I can do meditation (2) that it will make a difference.
How are you using the power of habit to achieve your goals? Are you using them for more than just personal growth? Share your thoughts in the comments!
My Experts on Habits - what makes them stick, what makes them fail. I have found some amazing tips in these three books. Highly recommend:
