I was never a fan of habits.
The very idea of getting on to the bandwagon of habits was daunting and seemed a little boring for someone like me.
But, despite that I have managed to maintain a streak of 1725 days straight at language learning. I know. It is unbelievable, yet true.
On a little introspection, I figured out 6 little hacks that worked wonders for me.
1. Give it a BITE SIZED makeover – Have you ever imagined having your favourite pizza in one single bite? Weird, right. Making a habit can feel the same way. Breaking them down into small manageable steps can make the habit mountain look like a doable task.
When I first wanted to make healthy habits, I took to walking for 5 minutes a day. Eventually increasing the time and pace at which I was walking did work well for me. Today, I not only walk every day for at least 25 – 40 minutes, but indulge in other bite sized physical activities as well without feeling exhausted.
2. Chunk them into a habit STACK – Making a new habit in isolation can be tiring and overwhelming. So, the easiest alternative is to make a ‘club sandwich’ of it. Take an already existing habit you follow and stack the new habit you wish to form with it. See the magic unwrap. It could be anything that makes you feel effortless about it.
When I wanted to make writing a habit, I started writing about the web shows and movies I was watching in multiple languages across various OTT Platforms. There came a time when I wanted to get into the habit of writing blogs and articles and it didn’t seem that tiring to me.
3. Become a PATTERN Detector – The best way to make a habit work is to become a detective and investigate yourself. What makes you want to do something repeatedly? Are you a Morning Cuckoo or a Night Owl? Do you prefer working alone or having buddies? Having an understanding of patterns in which you operate can ensure that you stick to your habits for a longer period.
I started learning Spanish with a fun learning app 5 years back. It took me a while to realise that I am at peace with it right before I hit my bed. So, spending 15 – 20 minutes at the end of the day became a pattern for my language learning habit. And today, I am learning not 1 but 6 different languages following the same pattern.
4. Spot Your Triggers – Triggers are like the remote control of your habits. They can be good, bad, or even distracting. Spotting your triggers early on as you are making a new habit can ensure you will be more consistent at your habit. They could be little cues to kickstart your habit at a daily level, or nuggets that can derail you from your habits indefinitely. Knowing your triggers can help you decide how to use them to make the most of your habits.
After spending a while at learning languages, I noticed that I get easily annoyed when I made silly mistakes and avoid practicing further. I decided to tune my thoughts to accept and allow myself to commit silly mistakes and try a new exercise to balance the negative thoughts lurking within.
5. Have a Show Up Index – We are surrounded by all kinds of distractions today that make it difficult for us to focus on a particular habit for long. The idea of ditching the habit comes as a bonus with the overwhelm of taking it up daily and the urge to procrastinate over it just once. Having a ‘Show Up Index’ can solve this to a certain extent.
When I was trying to stick to the habit of writing daily, I would often ditch it because of the overwhelm, the lack of ideas or out of sheer procrastination. I figured out that if I were to maintain an index where I could stick to the habit by doing the least possible thing instead of avoiding it, it would help me stay consistent. That is how my show up index came into existence. On days when I don’t want to write, I stick to writing 5 lines, a journal page or about a random web show I was watching to keep being consistent at the habit.
6. Spice It Up – Mundane tasks get boring after a while. So do habits. Repeating the same habit over a long course of time can be a reason to get away of the habit. This can happen even to the expert habit follower. At times it is ok to spice your habit by changing something small and seeing how it goes. Levelling up your habit at the right time can also be a novel way to stick to the habit.
After walking daily for around 2 years within my compound, I realised it had become boring to see the same surroundings every single day. This would often discourage me to go ahead with the habit of walking. I decided to change the location and started walking at a nearby park instead. Now I have not one but 2 spots for walking and I can choose where to go on with my habit of walking. Also, increasing or decreasing your pace for a while works well.
Care for a Bonus tip?
Revisit your Goals frequently and assess how you are doing at it? Look out for steps that need to be considered, things that have to be taken more seriously, or even assess if you are to restructure your goals according to your habits for better results.
Building habits is a journey, not a destination. Facing setbacks, committing mistakes, taking risks, exploring new avenues and staying consistent can discourage you often from sticking to habits.
Figure out what works for you and switch to it. Habits aren’t about being perfect at something. They are more about progress even if it means sticking to it when you rather do something else.
What habit are you going to build today?
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