Breaking bad habits doesn’t have to be complicated. Would you like a technique to help you change the habits you hate, to habits you love? In this post I will share an idea that has worked for me and for many of my clients.
Your thoughts may go something like this:
“I will drink more water everyday!” “I will get up and stretch every hour when I am working at my computer.” “I will remember to plan ahead for breakfast.” And so on…
And then, a few days later, you think, “Oh yeah…I meant to do that.”
Sigh.
Good intentions aren’t enough. Habits can be difficult to break.
Here’s the solution: Write it down and post the paper in plain sight.
Two things happen here:
One, your brain is triggered in a different way when you take pen to paper. This will help you to concentrate on your plan to change habits.
Two, when you are busy, you will catch sight of the reminder and hopefully follow your own directions.
You can use small sticky paper that can easily fit on various items. I also like using large pieces of paper to really grab my attention.
Note: This could drive the person or people you live with a little crazy. A couple of years ago I put up ten 8×11 squares of paper throughout my kitchen with the word ABUNDANCE written in large letters on each page. I wanted to remind myself to be grateful. Every time I saw the words, I would pause to say thanks. For some reason, although the notes didn’t bother anyone else, this really bothered the teen-age boy. (Many things can bother teen-age boys.) I continued to concentrate on abundance.
Our world is a very busy place.
We are bombarded with calls, information, and interruptions constantly.
If you want to take an action and make a habit change, you must remind yourself of YOUR desire and decision.
The way to do this is to place the reminder in your daily path.
Otherwise, you will get busy and then be disappointed that you forgot to take action.
Do you always forget to take your daily vitamin? Write yourself a reminder, and stick it on your kitchen cabinet where you will see it when you prepare your breakfast.
Do you want to remember to take bottled water with you? Place a large note on the door that you exit from each day.
Magnets are helpful for posting reminders. Your refrigerator or file cabinet can hold all sorts of self help messages!
Use this idea to develop new habits and change ones that are not serving you well anymore.
What is really fun and what will be a great boost to your self esteem, is the moment you realize that you have successfully integrated healthy and constructive behavior into your daily life. SUCCESS! Yay YOU!
Then you can start over with a new set of reminders. (Keep moving.)
“The point of power is always in the present moment.”
Louise Hay
I would love to hear from you. Do you use reminders in this way? Has it helped you? Please leave your thoughts and comments on my site!
If you still need some ideas for Letting Go, click here
Comments