Building Habits: How to build habits that actually stick!
Building habits is one of the simplest ways to make progress towards the person and life you want. But creating habits that last takes more than good intentions, it takes the right approach.
You want to be a better you, and you essentially know what you have to do (eat better, exercise, read more, etc) but how do you do these things on the regular and create a habit that actually sticks?
If you want to succeed and achieve your goals, the key is to focus on your habits. You know what they say, “you are what you repeatedly do.” If you keep working on your habits, your goals and the success you want will start to follow naturally.
Small habits might not seem like they’re doing much at first, but that’s where people often get it wrong. Every little action adds up. What you do today might not feel significant, but keep doing it day after day and it starts to compound.
Think of it like building a castle. You lay one brick today, another tomorrow, and another the day after that. Eventually, you look up and realise you’ve built something pretty impressive.
A little poetic? Sure. But also very true! (don’t judge my silly metaphors ok)
So, how do we build habits that actually stick? Below I share 7 tips to help you create life-changing habits that will move you closer to achieving your goals.
Let’s get it!
1. Start small and keep it simple
It can be really tempting to want to change your whole life and commit to ten new habits all at once, but we all know that never ends well… Picking one habit to work on at a time gives you the space to focus on one area without overwhelming yourself with too much change all at once.
The smaller and easier the habit, the easier it is to stick with it. Pick something that feels genuinely doable, something you know you can manage, even on a bad day. In fact, it can be so easy that it feels almost ridiculous.
The goal is to make the habit part of your everyday life. The simpler it is to fit into your routine, the more likely you are to actually keep doing it.
Start by making a list of the habits you’d like to build, then choose the one that matters most to you. That’s the habit you’ll focus on building first, rather than trying to change everything at once.
Decide that you are going to commit to this habit and then get to know it. Why do you want to implement this habit? How could your life look if you did? What are the consequences if you don’t?
2. Be consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to building habits. Try to do your habit regularly, ideally every day, especially when you’re first getting started. And again, the easier the habit is, the easier it will be to keep up with.
It can also help to do it at the same time and, if possible, in the same place each day. The more you repeat it in the same context, the more naturally it starts to become part of your routine.
And don’t rely on yourself to simply remember! Find ways to remind yourself. You could attach your new habit to something you already do every day, set an alarm, or leave yourself a sticky note somewhere you’re guaranteed to see it.
Want to improve your life but don’t know where to start?
If you’re ready to make some changes but don’t know what to tackle first, the Life Reset Quiz can help you narrow it down.
Answer a few quick questions to discover which area of your life could use your attention right now, plus a few ideas for your next step.
3. Set realistic goals & take it slow
When it comes to building habits, having realistic expectations is key. That being said, it’s not realistic to expect to change your whole life in one day, and trying to do so is just an invitation for disappointment and falling off the habit-building train.
It’s all about building on your chosen habit’s foundation slowly and consistently (think of a habit like a fawn in a meadow, no sudden movements!)
For example, if you want to start exercising, you could aim to start with three workouts a week (instead of trying to do one every day straight out the gate). Once your three days become second nature, you can consider adding another day into the mix.
This way you are sure to succeed without aiming too high in the beginning and giving up because you couldn’t stick to your unrealistic expectations of yourself. Been there soooo many times!
4. Set yourself up for success
Minimise friction by making it easier for yourself to complete the habit by adjusting your environment. For example, if you plan to work out in the morning, set your clothes out the night before and get the coffee ready.
Find a way to make the new habit enjoyable or productive. For example, if your new habit is to go for a walk every day, you could use that time to listen to a podcast on something that interests you or bring a friend with you.
Attach an enjoyable cue to the habit. For example, if your goal is to read for 30 minutes a day, make yourself a hot cup of tea or coffee right before you start and savor every sip while you complete your habit.
Reward yourself for doing the habit. Not only will this motivate you to do the thing, but it will help you to solidify the habit as well as you start to associate the reward with the habit.
5. Building habits is all about commitment and patience
Building a habit takes time and doesn’t happen overnight, so have patience! Acknowledge when you managed to complete the habit and try not to get frustrated when you don’t. Anticipate obstacles and let go of perfection. If you fall off the wagon, brush it off and get straight back on.
Commit to at least 3 weeks of practicing the habit and do it even when you don’t feel like it. Some people may be able to adapt to a new habit in a shorter amount of time, others longer, it’s a personal journey.
Just stick with it and it will pay off!
6. Plan it out
This is where some good old planning comes in handy! Use planning to make your habit easier to stick to. Circling back to the exercise habit, this could look like planning which days you will work out, what workouts you will do, where you will do them, and at what time.
Schedule it like you would an important meeting. I don’t know about you but there’s nothing more motivating to me than ticking things off a list!
Don’t just plan for success, think about what might get in the way too. Consider the obstacles you might come across and how you’ll handle them. That way, when something does throw you off, you already have a plan instead of having to figure it out in the moment.
7. Track it to build it
ry using a habit tracker to keep track of your progress and give yourself a little extra motivation. There’s something oddly satisfying about ticking a box, and once you’ve started, you might find yourself wanting to keep the streak going!
Tracking your habits can also help you spot patterns, see what’s working (and what isn’t), and actually see the progress you’re making over time.
Reminders for you
- Building any habit is always difficult in the beginning. At first, it will require some discipline, but it will get easier and become a way of life soon enough.
- It may take a few tries before you eventually get it right so be prepared to fail but don’t let it discourage you – it took me years to fall into a solid exercise routine but now I’m obsessed with it (in a good way). Keep pushing, you got this!
- Remember why your habit important to you, remember what you will be benefitting from it, how your life will be different by doing it, and what the consequences are for not doing it.
- Remember your “why” – write it down, on days when your motivation is low, read it, and remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing.
Related post: How to build self-discipline
And there you have it, our step-by-step guide to building habits that actually stick! Which tips will you be trying? Let me know below in the comments. As always, I’d love to hear from you!
