Success for 2014: Success is not an action but a habit

Hello Theo,

Last year I slipped into a time-wasting habit of scrolling social media, first thing in the morning.

It was definitely not a great start to the day!

Knowing this was having a negative impact, I did finally switched off all my alerts, stopped reaching for my phone and changed my routine.

Since then I've felt mentally and emotionally better and much more productive.

However, it took some will power ....

I wonder if you can relate?

Creating Healthy Habits

I read, recently, that over 40% of what we do is determined not by decisions but by habits!

Our habits can influence how we spend our time and money, the food we eat and the way we show up in business.

To quote Aristotle, "We are what we repeatedly do. Success is not an action but a habit"

Do you have a habit you’d like to start or change?

Perhaps you’d like to be more consistent on social media, create weekly videos or newsletters, or write a blog, then you procrastinate or lose motivation.

Many of us would like to do some things differently, but commitments, and unexpected challenges can take over, and we fall back into familiar routines and patterns.

So, if you are ready to make long lasting changes, here are a few things which have helped me consistently exercise, manage my money and stop scrolling! ...

~ Know your why. I choose to exercise regularly, because I want to maintain my health, strength and flexibility, now and into the future. My why helps me overcome resistance to showing up at the gym or on my yoga mat.

~ Habit stacking is an easier way to introduce a new habit over time. This means adding a new habit to an existing routine. For example, re-purposing content for social media after writing a newsletter or blog, or following up with new connections immediately after a networking meeting.

~ Schedule it in your calendar. Every week and month I review my goals, habits and intentions and create a list of related tasks, which I add to my diary.

~ Focus on your future self-image. What actions would you be taking and how will you feel about what you’ve achieved?

~ To stay inspired and motivated, surround yourself with people who encourage you to do things differently.

~ Track your progress with regular reviews. I love my Bullet Journals and use them to track my habits and my business objectives.

To find out more about habits, you may want to check out James Clear's 'Atomic Habits' book.

What I'm reading ...

The HeartMath Solution, by Doc Childre & Howard Martin. It’s been on my bookshelf for years and I finally opened it up!

As well as some fascinating insights into how the heart and brain function, there are easy to implement practices to improve focus, enhance creativity, lower stress levels and nurture relationships.

I’m also reading Michelle Obama’s The Light we Carry as I really enjoyed her first book Becoming.

This book is a more personal insight into her life experiences and her approach to navigating parenting, relationships, anxiety, challenges and change.

I would love to know what you are reading and if you have any recommendations.

Do let me know!