Do you have a goal, but you can’t seem to make progress on that goal?
When we’re not making progress on our goals, it can be so frustrating. We know what we want, but we can’t seem to get there.
My friend, Natasha, recently shared a thought that summed up why we sometimes struggle to achieve those things that are so important to us…
“You’re struggling because you’re hoping for results that your current habits can’t support.”
Mic. Drop.
Why Your Goals Need Habits
So, what is a habit? I love this definition: A habit is a small promise you keep to yourself, repeated until it becomes part of your life.
→ Making + keeping super small promises has literally changed my life. Learn more here.
You might not even realize it, but habits are already shaping your everyday life. What you do on repeat—your habits—affect your health, fitness, faith, relationships, mindset, and so on.
Here’s a fun exercise to do: Choose one day and keep track of those things—those habits—that you do without even realizing you’re doing them. Are you surprised by what you discover?
When it comes to achieving ANY goal, habits are crucial. In fact, they are the ONLY way you’ll achieve a goal because habits are the steps you take toward finally crossing that goal off your list. What do I mean by that? Here are some simplified answers to that question:
Goal: Run a 5K
Habit: Run 3 days a week, gradually working up to that 3.1 mile total
Goal: Lose weight
Habit: Eat 1g of protein per lb of your goal body weight. If you struggle with consuming enough protein, try increasing your daily amount by 10g. Once that’s a habit, increase by 10 more grams and so on until you’re hitting that daily number of grams.
Goal: Pay off the house
Habit: Pay $______ extra toward principal once a month. Even $5 can make a difference over time!
Goal: Read the scriptures daily
Habit: Read at least one verse of scripture every day.
Goal: Get more sleep
Habit: Turn off electronics at least 30 minutes before bed. If that’s not doable, try 15, or 10, or even 5.
→ Click here to learn how to get more sleep + why sleep is crucial to optimal health.
Goal: Floss your teeth every day
Habit: Keep the floss by your toothpaste or toothbrush.
7 Simple Ways to Create Habits That Stick
Like I said, your habits are the pathway to nailing your goals. No matter what your goal might be, to achieve that goal, you’ll need to create some habits—those stepping stones along the path to success.
So, how do you create the type of habits that will get you where you want to go? I’m so happy you asked! Here are seven simple tips for creating habits that stick:
Tip #1. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Sweetie). When we want to achieve a goal, we often try to create too many habits and habits that are way too large. This just won’t work. Yes, you might keep those habits for a short period of time, but not for the long-term. Your habit should be so stinking small that you can do it every single time…no matter what.
This tip will work for many goals, but for huge goals like “Run a marathon,” etc., your habits definitely have to match the goal. “Run 5 minutes, 3 days a week” is a habit that will not get you to that marathon finish line. Other habits might need to take a back seat during this goal season as well, which is totally okay.
Tip #2. Make your habit specific. Instead of saying, “I will exercise every day,” break that down to something specific like, “I will move my body for 5 minutes a day.” Super simple, right? And totally doable AND repeatable.
Tip #3. Stack your habits. Habit stacking is when you “stack” a new habit onto an existing habit like this:
When I do _______ (existing habit), then I’ll do _________ (new habit).
If your goal is to drink more water…
When I brush my teeth, then I’ll drink a glass of water.
I’ve done this habit stack for years, and it totally works! Habit stacking can make creating habits that stick long-term so much easier.
→ Click here to learn more about habit stacking.
Tip #4. Track your progress. One of my habits is to work on my book for five minutes every weekday. I have a simple tracker that I created in AI where I can easily see my progress, which is an awesome motivator in itself because I don’t want to break my streak. Which leads me to tip #5…
Tip #5. Focus on repetition, not perfection. “Real” life WILL happen, which can throw you out of your habit routine. And this is 100% okay! The key is to immediately start again and learn from the experience so you’re less likely to repeat it in the future.
Tip #6. Celebrate every single win, no matter how small. It’s so much easier to dwell on where we might mess up than on all of the wins we’ve had. Even the tiniest win counts!
Tip #7. Don’t be afraid to change or drop a habit. Life changes. You change. If a habit isn’t working for you anymore, change it or totally drop it. Your habits should serve you, not the other way around. I learned that lesson the hard way. Remember: Your habits are NOT set in stone.
→Do you struggle to create habits that stick? Struggle no more. Click below to get my FREE “No-Fail Habit Formula” Guide! You’ll also be signing up to receive my biweekly insights on mindset, habits, and simple wellness…delivered straight to your inbox.
Join the Newsletter + Get My Free “No-Fail Habit Formula” Guide here.
Your Habits Shape Who You Become
While it’s absolutely true that your habits are the key to achieving your goals. There’s more. Your habits—even the tiniest, most inconsequential ones—also shape the person you’re becoming. Aristotle said it best: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Think of it like this:
Your habits reflect your priorities. Your habits build your confidence, which can then spill over into other areas of your life. Your habits reinforce your identity.
Here’s a bonus tip that’s so important that it deserves its own space in this post:
How you speak to yourself about yourself is crucial to sticking to your habits, achieving your goals, and becoming the person you want to become.
Here are some examples:
- I am a person who takes care of my body.
- I am a person who makes time for God.
- I am a person who keeps promises to myself.
- I am a person who cherishes my relationships.
- I am a person who doesn’t give up when things get hard.
- I am a person who is financially responsible.
- And so on…depending on your goal.
Notice that I wrote “I am” instead of “I want to” Your brain can’t see “I want to,” but it can certainly see “I am.” Since your thoughts lead to your actions—your habits, give yourself a huge head start by training your brain to see you accomplishing your goals and becoming that person you want to become.
→ Click here to learn more about the power of your mindset and your thoughts.
When you make this mindset shift, your habits take on a whole new meaning. They’re no longer just things you have to do to reach a goal; they become daily evidence that you’re becoming the person you want to be, making it that much easier to prioritize those habits and stick with them for the long haul.
Think about the habits you’re currently keeping and the ones you want to create. What kind of person are your habits helping you become?
Related reading:
The Sneaky Form of Procrastination That’s Keeping You from What Matters Most
The Benefits of Walking: How Many Steps Do You Really Need?
Starting Over: What 2½ Years Taught Me About Mindset, Habits, and Wellness
From “Have To” to “Get To”: The Power of Gratitude in Daily Habits
Leave a Reply