The Importance of Building Habits
In this post we are focusing on building habits, we will be learning how routines become habits, why we want to focus on habits and not goals, and how consistency build habits. We dive into the details of establishing routines and their impact on organization. It’s more than just discipline. Habits are the building blocks of repeated organization. Creating specific habits can streamline your life, and we uncover the power of habits in maintaining order. This podcast is your guide to not just understanding the importance of habits but using their ability to achieve lasting organization.
My son called me for no reason one day from college. Right away said “thank you” when I asked what for? He explained that friend was picking him up and he couldn’t get in the passenger seat of the car because it was so filled with trash and junk. He thanked me for teaching him to take trash and belongings out of the car each time he got home. Taking trash and throwing it away and taking his belongings to the appropriate places. Neither of us had realized that this had happened, and I think this example describes how a habit slowly form day after day, week after week, until you don’t realize you are doing it. Now when I think back on their years at home. This was always something we did automatically. This is about how your children will pick up on all your habits, good or bad. We as adults need to be conscious about the habits we are creating for our children.
Personally, I focus on habits instead of goals. While being a special education teacher, every school district is required to list goals for every subject for each student on an IEP, (individualized Education Program). We worked on the goal until it was completed, or we would have to realign the goal with the students’ strengths until they were able to meet the goal with success. Because of this, I now associate goals with a one-time target. Goals now feel temporary. I tend to view habits as continual progress toward a desired outcome. Habits create behaviors you need to be successful.
Think about habits this way. According to researchers from Duke University, up to 40% of our behaviors on any given day are driven by habit. Roughly half of your day is spent on autopilot, engaging in activities that can be positive or negative towards your progress.
Once habits are formed, they are automatic. We can literally rewire our brains when we form a habit. When searching to be successful in our lives, we need to concentrate on positive habits rather than a specific goal. I associate Goals with New Year’s resolutions, and everyone asks what resolution did you make for the year? Resolutions seem to be made, only to be broken; more of a one-time event, but a habit stays forever. Habits are the culmination of thousands of tiny actions and choices.
Habits are important for maintaining organization in our lives. Habits provide structure, reduce decision fatigue, and create a sense of order. Over time, they become automatic and reinforce our ability to stay organized and focused. The number of decisions an individual makes in a day can vary based on their routine, responsibilities, and personal preferences. But on average, studies have suggested that adults make anywhere from 35,000 to 70,000 decisions in a day. These decisions cover a wide range of choices, from what to wear or eat to more significant ones related to work and life choices.
A quote from Robert Fulghum “Habits are sacred because they give deliberate structure to our lives”.
When you repeatedly do something, you start building discipline, and discipline creates habits. We can create habits by doing. We can create habits by doing. Every choice we make has a consequence, to make the right choices to create lasting habits.
In building organization skills, we need to make sure we are forming habits. Habits are like routines we do every day, but they have a superpower, they can lead us to success. When we build good habits, they become the building blocks of success. Success doesn’t happen all at once; it’s the result of steady efforts. Habits make things easier because they become automatic, freeing up our brain for more important things. Whether it’s never giving up, or always learning, doing these small things consistently brings us closer to success. So, let’s focus on building good habits because they can transform us from dreamers into achievers, making our lives purposeful, satisfying, and successful.
When getting my workout routine in place especially as I get older, it is hard to have the energy and time to fit in a consistent workout. I consistently found excuses and never managed to complete workouts. Exercising is still challenging as I overcome some health issues, but I always feel better. I found that attending group workouts facilitated me to create a habit of attendance, being accountable to others and being around the infectious drive of other athletes working out helped me to create habits. Athletes often have a distinct mindset shaped by the demands of sticking with their sport, competitive nature, demonstrating discipline in attending workouts, mental toughness to stay focused and composed, confidence, positive self-image, and positive mindset. Overall, athletes’ mindset is shaped by their dedication. These qualities often translate into valuable life skills and the instructor continuously provides advice about a healthy lifestyle reminding us why we are there, and the advantages of being healthy and moving our bodies. When leaving the class, I feel successful and more motivated to overcome other obstacles. I attend so often, it’s turned into a habit and at times, I’ll arrive at the workout facility and contemplate: “I really don’t feel like attending today; but I am already here,” I had followed the habitual steps of preparing at a specific time, departing, driving, and now here I am: Let’s crush this workout!
Definition of persistence: Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action despite difficulty or opposition; the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even thou it is difficult or opposed by other people. (Goggle dictionary Oxford Languages)
Persistence is the road to building a habit. Being persistent will help you stay on course and create a habit, helping you stay on track and see the bigger picture. What do you need to change, how are you going to change and adopt this habit, how will you be determined and why? It’s important you’re not just positive but have a growth mind-set. Find positive people who are successful and study their habits and model them. Remember developing a habit doesn’t just happen, it takes time and persistence. J.K. Rowling had many refusals before she published her first Harry Potter novel. Exploring the autobiographies of persistent individuals can inspire you and provide valuable insights.
The journey to success is seldom a straight path; it’s riddled with obstacles, setbacks, and moments of doubt. Yet, it’s in these very moments that the fire of persistence burns brightest. When we accept dedication and refuse to submit to giving up, we establish a bond with our desires. We chip away at challenges, refine our skills, and transform setbacks. Remember that the combination of control and habit will continue to push you forward on your road towards success.
Persistence is everything. The more we persist, the more we evolve.
Persistence builds habits and reduces decision fatigue. Building good habits requires constant regularity and determination. But once all the pieces come together, we can marvel at the masterpiece of success that we’ve created through our daily actions and routines. The actions we do every day are building blocks to every skill. Every skill sits on another skill to become your habits and routines.
It is all those little tasks we often take for granted, like hanging the towel back up or putting it into the dirty clothes basket. If you are already doing the small organization details, work on refining those every day. As organizing never stops, there is always something to organize or clean…that’s just how life is, and life gets busy and there are days we end up throwing everything into that catch-all drawer because company is at the front door. It does seem overwhelming, but if you keep working at it you will find what works best for you and establish a routine. Don’t put it off, why put off organizing something now when it will only be there tomorrow and the next day. Mark it off your list today! This is all about trying to manage the chaos our lives bring, in the happy times and the busy times. In the middle of dinner with family, in the middle of the kids’ football, school, practice, appointments, and homework, so let’s be thankful for getting to have these moments.
To establish a routine and build new habits, think about your daily routine and what you are already completing. Think about brushing your teeth: Do you consistently return your toothpaste and toothbrush to their designated places? Do you rinse out the sink once you are finished? Do you place the hand towel back on the towel rack? All these tasks need to be completed to have an organized space first thing in the morning. Consider all the small, tiny, non-obvious actions you take every single day that either create good habits or create bad habits. Create good habits for long enough and you’ll see incredible changes that make you feel empowered. Habits are powerful by bringing about changes that become part of your life.
Achieving success boils down to always practicing a handful of straightforward routines and building habits daily.
Three Strategies to build new habits into your routine are listed:
- Determine the habits you want to establish
- Identify small skills you can add to your daily routine to form those habits
- Develop self-discipline and be persistent to complete these skills and form habits
As we build our habits, think of them as steppingstones – each one leading you closer to success. So, let’s dig in, embrace the process, and turn those tiny actions into powerful transformations!