“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle.

In view of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that has affected the world this year we have all had to get used to a new way of being. This has enabled us to come to terms with a variety of social distancing and lockdown measures designed to control the spread of the virus.

Despite the disruption caused by the virus and resultant measures, it’s important that we develop good habits that help us to achieve our goals and desires.

Some of the characteristics and qualities required to make changes and achieve goals are effective planning, belief that it’s possible to achieve, self-discipline to keep taking action and persevere in the face of difficulty.

Research suggests that 90% of what we do each day is habit.

Therefore, it’s vitally important that we create good effective and healthy habits that help us to maximise our opportunities and performance, fulfil our potential and attain success.

We truly are creatures of habit, so it’s vital that the habits we have help us rather than hinder us! Each day when we get up to the time that we retire to bed, there are hundreds of things that we do each day the same way. This will include the way we shower, dress, eat breakfast, brush our teeth, travel to work etc.

Here are some other facts about habits:

  • Established habits take 21 days to break/change
  • New habits take between 25 and as much as 66 days to form (depending on what research you read!)

So, change doesn’t happen overnight and given the length of time it takes to form new habits, it could be one of the reasons why New Year resolutions get broken and goals go unfulfilled.

The positive aspect of habits is that they free up our mind while our body is on automatic pilot. For example, we’re able to plan our day whilst we’re in the shower, exercising or travelling somewhere.

The negative aspect of habits is that they get locked into our sub-conscious mind and create self-defeating patterns that inhibit our growth, limit our performance and prevent us from fulfilling your potential.

It was Einstein that said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

If we want a different set of results, we have to adopt a different approach and habits. Whatever habits that we’ve established are producing our current level of results. If we would like to create increased results, improved performance, better relationships or greater happiness we will need to create a new set of habits.

There are some bad habits that will hinder our performance and prevent us from being the best that you can be. These may include: –

  • Not keeping the promises that we make to ourselves or others
  • Over committing our time
  • Having weak boundaries and difficulty saying no to other people’s requests and demands
  • Not following through on action plans
  • Procrastinating and over thinking issues
  • Not returning phone calls or replying to emails in a timely manner
  • Watching too much TV
  • Staying up late and not getting sufficient sleep
  • Spending time with negative people
  • Not taking enough breaks throughout the day
  • Drinking insufficient water and eating the wrong food
  • Lack of exercise

Each of us is unique and has our own secret formula that helps us to achieve our very best results. It will be different for each of us.

Quite often I suggest to clients that they ask themselves the question “What daily habits and rituals enable me to be the best I can be?” I then recommend they devise a list of 5 – 7 things that they must do each day to get the results they desire. The list tends to cover areas like working practices, diet, exercise, sleep, relationships, effective boundaries etc.

This week, in order that you may be the best that you can be, why not take a few moments to consider the following questions: –

  • What new habits and behaviours do I need to start doing?
  • What good habits and behaviours do I need to expand?
  • What bad habits and behaviours do I need to stop doing?

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk