3 Main Reasons Why You Don't Stick To Your New Habits

When it comes to improvement and success in all areas of our life, HABITS play a key role.

Weight loss, business success, health, personal development, happy relationships, etc. It all comes down to small habits we do day in and day out.

They either serve us on what we want to achieve or not. If you have tried to form new habits but they didn’t stick, here are 3 reasons why:

1. IDENTITY MISMATCH. Your new habits are not in alignment with your new identity. What does it mean? If you have not eaten healthy or never exercised and now you made a commitment to eat healthily and exercise 3 times a week, these habits unlikely will stick because you don’t see yourself as a healthy person, it is nor your identity, health may not yet be your value. Another example is if you have been telling yourself 'I am always stressed out and overwhelmed, I never get anything done...', starting new planning habits will not stick as you do not see yourself as a productive and organized business owner. Changing any habit starts with creating a new identity, and creating an effective new identity starts with becoming aware of the old one. Check the habits that did not stick - what picture do you hold about yourself, what are you telling to yourself? Is it in alignment?
2. ENVIRONMENT. Your environment does not support your new habit. You want to quit playing games but your Playstation is always on the table in front of you? You want to start eating healthy but your counter is full of tempting unhealthy choices? You want to become more productive but all your tools are hidden in your computer? Make your environment supportive of your new habit: make your clothes and shoes ready near your bed so it is easy to go exercise, put a 2l water jar on the table so you will remember to drink it, buy a planner and place it on your table so you start planning easier, etc. Look at your goals and think how can you make them easier to do and more visible. I decided to wear my Apple watch each day to track my kilometers better for my new 2022 fitness challenge. I have charged it in a different room and I always forgot to put it on before I went downstairs. Now I place it on the couch near the stairs and I do not miss a day without putting it on. It is right in front of my eyes when I go downstairs.
3. HABIT BATCHING. Your new habit may be completely out of order or sequence you do things daily. Look at the existing habits and incorporate your new habit in or around them. Use your existing habits to your advantage when forming a new one. If you want to start planning each day the night before, check your end-day routine. You most likely do specific things before you are done for the day, once you close the computer, pick your planner and write 3 things you need to do tomorrow. I personally wanted to read/listen more so I blocked 1h each day for an outside walk and I listen to books while I walk. I could listen to podcasts, music, or call someone, but I strictly just listen to books. These 2 habits work amazingly for me, I wait to go out because then I can listen to my favorite books. I also noticed that I do not stretch enough after I walk 1-1.5h each day, so I started to stretch for 1min BEFORE I enter the house, before I open the door. It is nothing major, but small habits, compounded over time bring results and I made my environment friendly to my new habit, plus healthy lifestyle is my value and identity - it is very easy to stick to a new habit right from the start.

Forming a new habit does not have to be hard nor take many months. Look at your current habits that for some reason are hard for you to form and check if they fall under any (or all 3) above-mentioned categories. If yes, make a slight change in identity, environment, or batching and see how it transforms the way you do things.