Changing your daily routine is a great way to improve your lifestyle and gaming experiences.
You see, most of the things we do daily are habits.ย For example, we brush our teeth without thinking about it and check our phones without even realizing it.
Habits are just routines that we do automatically, without much conscious thought.
We are wired to follow specific patterns every day. So why is it so hard to form new healthy habits?
Well, it’s because habit creation requires a lot of work and dedication. First, you must consciously make a healthy change to your routine and then try to stick with it.
This is not easy, but it’s worth it! The key is to start making small changes that are easy to follow and don’t require immense willpower or self-discipline.
If you want to start forming healthy habits, there are a few things you can do:
- Make an elaborate plan
- Start with small steps
- Choosing which habits
- Find a support group or buddy system
- Reward yourself for your accomplishments
- Be patient and stay committed. You have to be consistent until the habit is fully formed
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Tips For Healthy Habit Creation
Let’s take a closer look at each of these tips:
1. Make an Elaborate Plan
If you want to form a new healthy habit, it’s best to have an elaborate plan. This means that you need to know what the habit is, when you’re going to do it, and how you will do it.
For example, if you want to start going to the gym, your plan would include the following:
- What time of day you’re going to go to the gym
- How often you’re going to go to the gym
- What type of exercises you’re going to do at the gym
- What you’re going to wear to the gym
- How you’re going to get to the gym
When you have a specific plan, it’s much easier to follow through. A plan also helps reduce stress and anxiety because you know what to do and when to do it. Being specific about what you want makes it easier for your brain to form a new habit.
Another planning hack for your healthy habit creation is to write down your goals and put them somewhere visible. For example, you can write your goal on a sticky note and put it on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror. This stimulates your brain to form a visual cue, which will help you to stick to your goal.
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2. Start with Small Steps
If you’re trying to establish a new healthy habit and stick to it, it’s best to start small. This way, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed and more likely to succeed. In addition, the initial habit curation process should be easy to do and shouldn’t require a lot of willpower or self-discipline.
For example, if you want to start eating healthier, you can begin by making small changes to what you eat (diet) or when you eat, as in Intermittent Fasting.
For example, try bringing a homemade meal from home instead of eating fast food for lunch. Or, instead of drinking soda every day, try drinking water.
Once you’ve successfully established the small habit, you can gradually increase the difficulty. You can add a few more healthy changes to your diet or start working out at the gym. But be warned, if you improve the difficulty too soon, you’re likely to fall off track.
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3. Choosing which Habits
When trying to form a new habit, it’s essential to choose something important to you. This way, you’ll be more likely to stick to it. Be deliberate with your desired habit and ensure it benefits your gaming lifestyle, health, and well-being.
Here’s the thing: not all habits are healthy. Most habits can be downright harmful. So, it’s essential to make sure the habit you choose is something that will improve your life, not worsen it.
For example, replacing cigarettes with candy is not a good idea if you’re trying to quit smoking. While this may help you stop smoking, you’ll form a habit of eating candy, which is still unhealthy, and you’ll likely gain weight.
Instead, try replacing cigarettes with an activity that’s healthy for you, like going for a walk or playing a sport. This way, you’re still breaking the smoking habit while establishing a new, healthier one.
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4. Find a Support Group or Buddy System.
Habit creation can be a lonely, treacherous journey. This is especially true if you’re trying to establish a new habit that’s different from the norm.
That’s why finding a support group or buddy system is a good idea. If you’re trying to form a new habit, find a friend or family member who is also trying to establish a new habit. Alternatively, you can join an online forum or support group that’s dedicated to helping people develop new habits.
The great thing about having a support group is that you can encourage and motivate one another. This will help you to stick to your goals and achieve success.
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5. Be committed and reward yourself for sticking to the habit
Research has shown that one of the best ways to stick to a new habit is to commit and reward yourself for sticking to it. This means you should set some rules and regulations for yourself and reward yourself for following through.
This is a form of positive reinforcement, which is a powerful tool for shaping behavior. For example, you can commit to working out at the gym for 30 minutes every day and reward yourself with a healthy snack or an hour of Netflix.
The key thing to remember is that the reward should be something that you enjoy and that’s beneficial for your health. This way, you’ll likely stick to the habit in the long run. Forming new habits can be difficult, but with a little effort and determination, you can do it!
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6. Be patient and consistent
British researchers studied how people form habits in the real world. This involved asking participants to choose a new habit, such as running every day, and tracking their success over time. They found that the people who were most successful in forming a new habit were those who were patient and consistent.
The study also found that participants took around 18 to 254 days to create a new habit. So, be patient and consistent if you’re trying to establish a new habit. It will take time, but eventually, you’ll be able to stick to it.
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Why We Fail at Creating New Habits and How to Fix It
Most people who try to create new habits fail. And it’s not always their fault. But unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can get in the way and sabotage our efforts.
First, many people fail because they give up too quickly. They try to form a new habit but give up if they don’t see results immediately. This is why it’s essential to be patient and consistent. It takes time to form a new habit, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away.
Second, many people also fail because they try to do too much. They try to form new habits while changing other aspects of their lives. This is usually counterproductive and can lead to failure.
Instead, try focusing on one new habit at a time. This way, you’ll be more likely to stick to it and see results. And once you’ve successfully formed the new habit, you can move on to the next one.
We also fail to create new habits because of trying to do too much, too soon. This can quickly overwhelm you leading to frustration and failure.
Again, try focusing on one new habit at a time. Start small, and then gradually add more habits as you become more comfortable. This will help you avoid getting overwhelmed and ensure you can stick to the new habits.
So, these are some of the reasons why people fail at creating new habits. But don’t worry; there are ways to fix it!
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Identify Keystone Habits
Experts say one type of habit is essential for forming other new habits. This is called a keystone habit.
A keystone habit is a habit that has a domino effect on your life. It helps to create a positive cascade of changes that can ultimately lead to success.
For example, let’s say that you want to start eating healthier. One of your keystone habits could be cooking more meals at home. This would help you to eat more nutritious foods, and it would also save you money.
Another keystone habit could be waking up earlier in the morning. This would give you more time to exercise or eat breakfast before heading to work.
Both of these habits would help you to achieve your goal of eating healthier, but they would also have other positive benefits in your life. This is what makes them keystone habits.
So, if you’re struggling to create new habits, try focusing on one or two keystone habits first. These will help to set the stage for future success and make it easier for you to form other new habits.
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How To Find Your Keystone Habit
Now that you know what a keystone habit is, how do you find your own?
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for your keystone habit. First, the habit should be important to you. It should be something you really want to achieve, not just something you think would be nice.
Second, the habit should be achievable. It should be something you can realistically accomplish without putting too much stress on yourself.
Third, the habit should be enjoyable. The more fun you have with the habit, the more likely you will stick with it.
To identify your keystone habit, start by asking yourself the following questions:
- What is one thing that I want to achieve?
- What is something that I can realistically accomplish?
- What is something that I would enjoy doing?
- Is this important to me and my lifestyle?
Once you have your answers, look for a habit that matches all these criteria. This will be your keystone habit.
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Stack your habits!
Another way to make it easier to form new habits successfully is to stack them. This means that you tie your new habit to a routine that’s already significant and deeply entrenched in your lifestyle.
Look for daily patterns in your life and find ways to add other healthy habits to that routine. For example, if you are a morning coffee person, you can add a short meditation session or stretching exercises to your coffee time.
If you’re a night owl, try adding a task you can do before bed, like reading or journaling. This will help to get your mind and body ready for sleep.
This is a great way to make sure that you can stick to the new habits because you’re already doing them as part of your daily routine.
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Use Technology to Help You Succeed
Technology can be a great tool for helping you to form new habits. There are a lot of different apps and tools that can help you to track your progress, stay on track, and set goals.
The idea is to get a tool/app/website that not only makes it easier to track your progress but also makes it more fun. You could also look for a tool/app with some built-in accountability measures and intuitive encouragements and rewards to help you stay motivated.
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Healthy Sleep Habits
Healthy sleep habits are an essential component of overall wellness and well-being. Getting enough high-quality sleep is crucial for physical and mental health, as it allows the body to repair and rejuvenate itself. To promote healthy sleep, it’s important to establish a consistent sleep schedule and create a sleep-conducive environment. This includes keeping the bedroom dark, quiet, and cool, and avoiding screens and stimulants such as caffeine before bedtime.
Additionally, following your circadian rhythm, which is the body’s internal biological clock that regulates when you feel awake and when you feel sleepy, can also help ensure restful sleep. The circadian rhythm is influenced by light exposure and other environmental cues, and by establishing regular sleep and wake times and exposing yourself to natural light during the day; you can keep your Circadian Rhythm in sync and enjoy the benefits of healthy sleep.
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Final Thoughts
Creating new habits can be tough, but it’s definitely doable. Focusing on a keystone habit first can make the process a lot easier. Next, consider stacking your new habits by adding them to your daily routine to make the whole habit-creation process better. And finally, don’t forget to use technology to help you stay on track; if you can find an App to remind you at first; Gamification elements are a bonus. With these tips, you’ll be on your way to forming healthy habits in no time!
Now that you know how to create healthy habits, it’s time to get started! Just remember to be patient and consistent and focus on one habit at a time.
Good luck!
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