Many of our daily habits can be beneficial — they provide us with structure, balance, and a sense of security. But what about those that aren’t so good for us?
The alarm goes off at the same time each morning, we make our coffee on autopilot without stopping to think about whether we really want it or not, we drive the same route to work, and then settle in for a day that is pretty much the same as yesterday.
“Our brain is a connection machine,” says life coach Derik Mocke. “Whenever new information enters the brain, we try to make it fit in its current set of connections. These connections are like rivers in our brains that become deeper the more information follows the same path. This is how we form habits over time,” he says.
Think about when you learnt to drive. At first you had to really concentrate on what you were doing, but over time — as the new connections became entrenched in your brain — it became second nature. So it is with habits. If they’re repeated often enough, they become second nature.
The good news is we are fully equipped to change our habits, say experts. “The way you now use your mind is only a habit, and habits, any habits, can be changed if we want to do so, or even if we only know it is possible to do so,” writes Louise Hay in You Can Heal Your Life (Hay House).
TRY THIS SIMPLE STRATEGY:
1. Write down three habits you’d like to change. List what you want to achieve, not what you want to stop, advises Mocke. Instead of “I want to cut out junk food”, say “I want to fit back into my skinny jeans”. Focus on the reason.
2. Tackle the habits one at a time, one each month, and focus on replacing it with a positive behaviour. Tell your partner or a friend what you’ve set out to do. You’ll need their support, but also the sense of accountability.
3. Don’t let a minor slip become a major setback. Habits change slowly and a relapse is not the end of the world. Learn from your mistakes and avoid people or situations that trigger your bad habits.
4. Celebrate small victories along the way
– this will keep you motivated, energised and focused on your goals, says Mocke.
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