Develop Small Habits For Success

“Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do.”

- Sean Covey

Developing Small Habits For Success

Small habits, or micro habits are so small that they are easy to develop without too much effort. They are the low hanging fruit to change and equip yourself with success habits.

Taking on big changes can be daunting will and become frustrating if one fail too often.

The good news is, you develop small habits for success with just three simple steps:

Focus on one small habit at a time

''Big intentions are worthless if they don't bring results. For example, I can say that I will exercise for two hours every day, but if I never do it, the size of the intention doesn't matter. In fact, intention without action harms self-confidence.''

- Stephen Guise, Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results

Just because these are small habits, you will be likely to think you can take a "big bite" and create a whole slew of them. After all, they're just small changes, right

The problem is that even small changes can add up, especially when you have a whole big long list of them.

So rather than getting caught up trying to remake yourself entirely, pick just one micro habit to establish.

Then don’t allow yourself to pick up another one until the first is already well-established.

Associate the new small habit to one that’s already in place

''Doing a little every day has a greater impact than doing a lot on one day. How much greater? Profoundly so, because a little every day is enough to grow into a lifelong foundational habit, and those are a big deal.''

- Stephen Guise, Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results

First, look at what you’re trying to establish. Then see if there is another similar habit you already have in place to which you can associate with this new small habit.

For example, suppose you want to start flossing your teeth. You could connect it to the already established routine in place for brushing your teeth.

The act of brushing your teeth then becomes a trigger for the new micro habit, and so it becomes easy to remember to do it.

Some creativity helps with this process. Sometimes you will have difficulty trying to figure out what to habits associate to.

Asking questions help.

What time of day do you want to perform this micro habit? I

Is there something else I do at that time every day?

Is this micro habit somehow related to something I’m already doing regularly?

Can I somehow link it to something else entirely but still see some alignment in my mind?

A mind-mapping exercise is also useful.

Set it in stone

''If you fail using a particular strategy more than a few times, you need to try another one. It doesn't matter if it works for everyone else if it doesn't work for you!''

- Stephen Guise, Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results

Commitments are essential to ensure success. At the very least, you need to put it into your plan and schedule it.

If your goal is proper hydration, even a small habit such as drinking more water need to be established by simply setting a timer on your phone to remind you to drink every hour.

Use your calendar, your timer, even a post-it note on a physical calendar hanging on your wall to remind yourself that you have set aside time just for this small habit.

These simple steps will ensure any small habit can be easily set up for success.

If you’re still struggling after all this, think of a small reward you can use to encourage yourself to perform this particular small habit.

Sometimes, increasing the motivation helps.

Will developing small success habits help you achieve your goals?