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Men’s natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them. ~Confucius, Analects
A good habit, such as exercising, eating well, and daily mediation, is formed by developing a routine. A routine is achieved by setting a goal and sticking to your routine until you achieve your goal. For instance, I wanted to lose 10 pounds. I was able to do that by eating right everyday and starting my running program again.
Sadly, many are not able to form a daily routine due to their lack of motivation and their desire for instant results. If you goal is to lose 10 pounds, you have to realize that you are not going to lose the weight overnight. It took me 10 weeks to lose 10 pounds. By having a realistic expectation of your goal through your research of the ways to attain you goal, you are able to accomplish systematic success through discipline and hard work.
How to Form a Habit:
Start small – For instance, start by waking up and doing some light stretching right after getting out of bed. Keep a yoga mat by your bed so you will remember. Eventually, it will become so automatic that you will not even have to think about it. This could then blossom into an hour long yoga routine.
Schedule the activity – I like to exercise early in the morning, right after waking up. It gets me going and starts my day off on the right foot. You could journal about your eating so you can keep track of your progress or have a set time to write everyday.
Keep up the routine – Remember: fitness goals, eating goals, writing goals, etc. do not happen over night. Dedication and hard work are the only ways to achieve our dreams.
Before you know it, you will have formed the desired habit and will have incorporated it into your daily routine. Habits that allow us to express ourselves, maintain our health, or help our mental stability allow us to achieve tranquility throughout our lives.
What types of habit have you formed? Let me know below!