Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. ~Jim Rohn
It’s July 1 a new month and a great time to develop a new habit. Do you often set out with a great intention to start something new, make the plan and somehow not follow through? I know I have. This year I have developed some new habits by setting 21 day goals rather than the normal 30 days to make a new habit rule. I have restarted painting on almost daily basis after setting myself a 21 day painting goal and produced a Prescription Series of paintings.. Since completing that series I have started on a color prescription series where each week I am focusing on a color of the chakras; This week it is the heart chakra and the color green.
What is even more exciting of that through developing this regular habit I now have established the beginnings of my online art gallery at Fine Art America and this month my goal is to put up 5 new images each week and I have that scheduled into My Weekly Browsing schedule (a firefox addon) so the page opens at the site and this weekend I will get a series of paintings prepared to be uploaded.
What do you do to create a new habit and make it stick?
Be inspired, be empowered, be the change and make a difference TODAY! And remember to have FUN
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PS: This is Day 1 of Ultimate Blog Challenge that is run by Michele Scism and Michelle Shaeffer. Now here is a great way to develop your daily blogging habit.
Hi Suzie,
I am new to your site.
Thanks for the reminder for us to make sure we develop our actions in habits. Habits do in fact create our destiny, and I am in the process of creating a whole lot of them. Good ones of course.
For me, one way I do this is to make any action I take become a rule first. When my plans required actions are made into a rule, consequences become ingrain. One of my earliest rule is not to eat out for lunch anymore. If I do, the punishment would be no dinner. Once that becomes a rule, I can’t tell you how power that become. Needless to say in no time, that rule became a habit and I am better for it.
That is my two cents worth of contribution here.
Cheers
Hi Jimmy,
Welcome, I look forward to getting to know you and Love you tagline- Life Architect. I admire you discipline- I am not to keen on rules- something I like to break 🙂 Maybe I think rules are a constrainr
Hi Suzie,
I started a new meditation habit and was up to 15 minutes every morning. My plan was to add 5 minutes per month and then do a afternoon session.
I went away for 3 weeks got off schedule and started all over again at 5 minutes.
That’s how I do it small baby steps. And rather than give up when things go bad I start over with a baby step.
Hi Tess,
Love it-baby steps are a great way to get back on track and keep moving forward. It is amazing how challenging it can be to keep on schedule when things change or we are away.
I am having the same current challenge gently getting back into exercise after my recent health challenges and yesterday I forgot to do my 5 Tibetans as I sleep in and today the same- back tomorrow at step 1 🙂
Oooo my first time here, a beautiful blend of creative photos and words, very nice! Over from FindyourHarmony.
I find it easy to make a routine for the weekdays, because I work Mon-Fri, leave for work at mainly the same time, etc. It’s weekends where the habits fall apart. Like having to do certain exercises for a back problem. I have the routine for the weekdays-I have to find a way for the habit to stick on the weekends, where I don’t wake up at the same time, where my routines may not be the same.
Hi Alana,
Good luck with scheduling you weeekends- start with 3 things you intend to do each day
Great inspiration Suzie! I like the idea of taking 21 days to create change. It makes it seem much more manageable.
Hi Angela ,
I also like the sound too of 21 over 30 or 90, also breaks what we are normally told- must have been spirit or intuition that inspired the 21 days after you gave me the prescription. I have just done Color prescription 4 no 2 this morning
Hi, Suzie! When I’m internally motivated and when there’s a meaningful purpose attached to the new habit, it’s sometimes easy for me (e.g. becoming a vegetarian a number of years ago, my gratitude journal, other stuff). Oddly, sometimes it’s not easy though (e.g. daily blog posts, regular exercise). There are great internal motivations and meaning for both these habits, but it takes external accountability and support to get them done (like blog challenges for the daily blogging habit). I kind of like your 21-day idea. It’s short-term, so it’s not overwhelming . . . but it’s probably enough time for a stick factor. I might give that a shot with the exercise thing :). Thanks for sharing!
Hi Leanne,
That is so true, not always easy and you have reminded me since I stopped posting daily at my gratitude blog I have been slack in this area- time to reactivate that blog I think. yes 21 days dis work for me and now i have the goal of painting 5 days a week
Blogging is my new habit in training… The Ultimate Blogging Challenge is what is really helping me keep up… I love the idea of a 21 day goal rather than 30, something about 21 does seem easier to catch on to..
Hi Cariann,
yes it seemed to work for me- another thing I do like is a 30 day program that gives you something to do to addon etc on line- have done that recently with Ask Your Guides program where I watched a short video each day
Good luck with the blogging
Hi Suzie,
I love your prescription paintings!
I have trouble developing new habits (and letting go of old ones) I have some success by taking on time limited commitments (I’m doing the ultimate blog challenge, too 🙂 ) I find if I can keep something up for a set time, after the commitment is done a new habit has developed.
Hi Dave,
Thanks- i love you feedback- makes my heart sing. yes to time limited commitments although i never seem to keep the blogging up after a challenge- this time I am going to work at developing a blogging schedule that keeps going after the challenge for 4-5 posts a week. I have been inspired by Randy Gage who says it is better to write 5 short posts a week than one BTW love the name of your blog and have just checked it out- cool.
Suzie —
Congratulations on the progress you are making moving through your goals. That’s fantastic and quite inspirational.
When I want to change a habit I post reminders where I’ll see them and make the commitment to myself to get it done. You’ve encouraged me to step up my game. Thanks!
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Love it when I inspire, Makes my heart sing:)
Ah post its I need to put a few of those around for the things that are more challenging to do daily
Suzie
Suzie, I have made some habits stick by simply having a checklist. My human side likes to have a place where I can make a check mark. It is so gratifying for me, even though it sounds simple. Also, I’ve had accountability partners for creating new habits, where we check in each day via a quick email. I suppose most of my habit-related changes I’d like to make are more about getting rid of bad habits, to be honest. I’ve found that I need addiction-replacements at times. For example, I used to drink coffee each day, but found it was too hard on my adrenals and nervous system. I switched over to one cup of caffeinated tea in the a.m. This is much better for me and my body after a few years of drinking a full French Press pot of coffee each day. Right now, I’m working to release my Facebook addiction. So, I’m going to sign up for a membership site with on-line guitar lessons/tutorials. I take in-person lessons, but this will be a fun way to supplement my learning and achieve my goal of being in a couple of working bands 🙂 Thanks for this post.
Hi Lisa,
Yes I love a check list too and find it does also give me a great sense of achievement at the end of each day/ week/month to look at what i did achieve rather than focus on what i didn’t ! I love the release of the facebook addiction- I am working on a daily social media action rather than adhoc! Thanks for dropping by
Like Lori, it is making it “stick” that is the tough part, but journaling does help. And, taking it one day at a time. Thanks for your post — it has me thinking.
Hi Candace,
I love that you are inspired and I will do another post on simple ways that work for me and share also what maybe hasn’t
Suzie,
I love your painting and other 21 day projects. I think I may just “borrow” that idea for my own life.
I’ve heard different experts share different “magic numbers” for the amount of time it takes to create a new “habit” — everything from 7 – 90 days. I think it actually depends on the person and their motivation.
If someone is trying to develop a new habit for something they are passionate about or something meaningful to them, then it probably happens faster than if they are trying to create a habit for something they just feel they SHOULD be doing.
Also, having a supportive environment and accountability are what can really help solidify a resolve to develop a new habit. This blog challenge is the perfect example. Left to our own devices, many of us would skip days or simply lose steam. However, with the group cheering us on, giving us feedback and creating a sense of purpose and community, there is a much better chance of success for all of us.
Hi Cathy,
Yes so true about the numbers- I heard 26 last week! I agree it is what works for you.
Your comment is a reason why maybe we SHOULD not even think about Making a Should a habit 🙂
Yes a blog challenge is a great example
thanks for commenting
My new habits usually stick if I blog about them. When I am accountable to other people I am much more likely to see it through so it becomes a habit rather than just giving up.
One of the reasons I decided to do the Ultimate Blog Challenge too.
Hi Kyie,
Yes accountability or as my mentor Michael Losier who slices and dices words says the ability to account for is so important and it is amazing when you declare on the blog how you know that other people will be waiting for the next action- this worked for my Painting series.
Starting a new habit isn’t a problem for me, Suzie – it’s keeping going that’s the challenge! 😉 Yup. Making it stick…
When I reflect for a bit, I think every new (positive) habit that I’ve been able to make ‘stick’ has begun while journaling. At first it came out on the page as a desire. Then that desire grew into a strategy. Hmmm. Gotta give this a little more thought…
Thanks, so much for a thought-provoking post!
Hi Lori,
I love what you have written and I totally agree making it stick is the challenge. i really like the idea of journaling and then developing the desire into a strategy, I think it does require some more thought 🙂