7 Tips to Master Habit Forming in 2023

Hello Family. Its that time of the year when we make new year resolutions and plan for their execution. The biggest challenge (As most of you will agree) is making these resolutions stick throughout the year. So before you get going full speed with your planning for next year, below are some tips that I would like to share if you plan to start building a new habit. I believe it will help you to plan better and increase your odds of succeeding in 2023.

Tip 1 – Let’s Keep it Simple and Start small

It’s easier to build a new habit if you start with small steps that are manageable to get you going in the first 2 weeks or so. It is very important not to have too steep a challenge in the initial days.  For eg: if you want to start exercising regularly, try committing to just 10 minutes of exercise a day to begin with (and not 40 mins).

Remember the good old saying “Don’t ‘Bite Off More Than You Can Chew”

Tip 2 – Make it part of your daily routine

Try to incorporate your new habit as part of your daily routine so that it becomes automatic. Eventually the goal is that one reaches into a state of flow with the newly chosen activity which will reduce the resistance to execute it like a champ.
For eg: if you want to start reading more, make it part of your bedtime routine.

Tip 3 – Find a “psychological” trigger

Identify a specific trigger or cue that will remind you to perform your new habit. This is more of a ritual that gives the much required “psychological” hook. Please make sure the “friction” is not too high for this trigger.
For eg: if you want to start meditating, set an alarm on your phone (Black Lotus app preferably 😊) to remind you to meditate at the same time each day.

Tip 4 – Be consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to building habits. Try to perform your new habit at the same time each day to help establish a consistent routine.

Tip 5 – Track your progress

Use a proper tracker template or journal to monitor your progress. This will go a long way to keep you stay motivated. Measure what matters and capture that value as well. This will be your key metric of progress. Seeing your progress can help you stay on track and motivated to continue building the new habit.

Tip 6 – Seek accountability

Put your Skin on the line. Announce it to a larger community or group so that there are people who remind you of your goals and help you stay on course.
Consider finding a friend or accountability partner to support you in building your new habit. Sharing your progress with someone else can also help you stay motivated and on track.

Tip 7 – Be patient

Building new habits takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see progress right away or miss for one or two days in middle. It takes time and effort to build a new habit, so be patient with yourself and keep working at it

Hope these tips help you in achieving your goals in 2023.