How to make new habits a part of your life?

A cup of coffee or tea in the morning? We usually don't think about which drink to reach for. It happens automatically - it's a habit. Habits are the mental shortcuts that make our daily routines easier. They take many decisions off our hands every day.

So, how can you integrate a new habit into your daily routine?

Start small #

Start with a new habit that's as small as possible. The smaller the step, the more likely you are to stick with it for a long time. This way, you can gradually build up momentum and create a lasting change. Run three times for about 20 minutes. Or even better - start with walking three times for 20 minutes in the first place.

Repetition #

In addition to starting small, repetition is essential when establishing new habits. The more often you do something, the more likely it is to become a new habit.

The nerve cells in our brain are surrounded by a layer of fat known as myelin. The more often a nerve connection is "used", the thicker (and therefore faster) the connection becomes. Despite all our good intentions, we are more likely to reach for chocolate than a healthy snack because we have used the nerve connection "reach for chocolate" much more often than the nerve connection "reach for cucumber and carrot sticks". By repeating the new habit, you strengthen the new connection. And at some point - after enough repetitions - the new neural connection is faster than the old one and you reach for the healthy snack almost automatically.

Remember, a new habit doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and practice, but with persistence, you can make it a part of your daily life.

Plan and stay realistic #

To make your new habit a success, it's important to plan and stay realistic. Don't try to do too much too soon. Instead, set achievable goals and gradually increase your efforts over time. This way, you can create a sustainable habit that fits seamlessly into your daily routine.

Running for an hour a day may not be realistic with a full-time job, commute and leisure activities and is therefore doomed to failure from the outset. Exercising five times a week for 30 minutes is more realistic and can be (better) integrated into your everyday life. This will also make you more likely to stick with it. To help you stick with it, you can also set your new habit as a goal in Goalify.

You can choose whether the new goal is active daily, on selected days or weekly. This means that the goal for your new habit is only visible in your goals overview for the relevant period.

Breaks #

Breaks are an important part of developing new habits, which may sound strange at first. Remember, new habits are not about flawless perfection, but about perseverance. Taking breaks is an essential part of creating a lasting change. So, don't be too hard on yourself. Take a break when you need it, and then get back to your new habit with renewed energy.

New habits are not about flawless perfection, but about perseverance.

In Goalify, you can schedule breaks right away by working on your goal Monday to Friday, or only on selected days of the week.

By following these simple steps, you can make new habits a part of your life. So, go ahead and take that first step towards a healthier, happier you. You've got this

Are there any new habits you would like to incorporate into your daily routine? Write to us at hello@goalifyapp.com. We look forward to hearing from you!