How to build healthy habits that actually stick!

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 chipping away at building strong habits, achieving your goals and realizing success will happen as a natural by-product. 

Small habits might seem trivial, but that’s where most people get it wrong! Every action and effort, no matter how small, adds up at the end of the day. If you lay just one brick every day, you will eventually look up and realize you’ve built a castle.

Poetic, yes, but also very true. 

So, how do we build habits that actually stick? Below we share 7 tips to help you create life-changing habits that will move you closer to achieving your goals.

Let’s get started!

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 allows you the space to focus on one area without overwhelming yourself with too much change all at once. 

Smaller and simpler habits are easier to stick to which means you’re more likely to stay committed. Pick something that you feel is doable, something you know you absolutely can do, perhaps even something you consider ridiculously easy.

The main goal is to get the habit integrated into your life, the easier and simpler that is, the better the chance of success.

Make a list of habits you want to build and pick the most meaningful one. This is going to be the habit you are going to focus on creating for the foreseeable future.

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. Make sure to do it consistently

Consistency is key when it comes to forming habits, which is why your chosen habit must be completed on a regular basis (preferably every day). Again, this is so much easier to do when the task is not too overwhelming.

Try to practice the habit at the same time every day, and maybe even at the same place if possible as this will really help to solidify it. 

In order not to forget to complete your habit every day, come up with ways to remind yourself. A helpful tip is to try and attach the new habit to an existing one, or you could set an alarm or write it on a sticky note and put it up where you won’t miss it.

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 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, perhaps aim to start off with three workouts a week (instead of trying to do one every day straight out the gate). Once your three days become a virtually effortless habit 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.

4. Set yourself up for success

Make 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, perhaps use that time to listen to a podcast on something that interests you or bring a friend along with you. 

Attach an enjoyable cue to the habit. For example, if your goal is to read for 30 minutes a day, brew 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. 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 on 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. There’s something about writing things down in a diary that just makes us want to get things done!

Use your planning skills to anticipate potential obstacles and solutions as well. That way, when you encounter a roadblock you already know how to handle it!

7. Track it

Use a habit tracker to track your habits to motivate yourself. The satisfaction of ticking a check box may just make you want to tick off more! Tracking your habits could also help you to discover any patterns in your efforts, as well as highlight the positive changes that are happening.

Download your free habit tracker here

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 can do this!

• Remember why it’s important to you, remember what you will be benefitting from this, how your life will be different by doing this, and what the consequences are for not doing this. 

• 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 us know below in the comments – as always, we’d love to hear from you!