How do you go about creating habits? As we continue into autumn, I have been musing here about taking time for a reset as the seasons change. Resetting intentions, creating habits, taking time to review what we want these next months to look and feel like. What might have worked over the summer or last autumn may not serve us as well at this time.
As we become aware of changing needs, it may be time to create habits that keep us well in body, mind and soul.
I like the idea of intentions, as it creates more space for progress over a few days or week rather than the binary approach of whether we have or have not achieved what we wanted to that day. We look at the overall trajectory of our progress and give ourselves grace to not be where we want some days but to know that we can get back on track the next day without guilt or shame. More on that here.
However, the down side of setting intentions is that they can be too vague and easy to dodge. We can create all the intentions we want but if we choose to not take action towards achieving that – mindset, behaviour, action – it remains simple hot air.
Creating Habits.
That is where the role of creating habits comes in. A good rhythm of habits that work for us is what shifts intentions from theoretical concept to practical reality.
Earlier this summer, Nearest-and-Dearest, MB and I had a fabulous trip to see Van Gogh Alive in Edinburgh. It is hard to describe without being too gushy….an immersive art experience with music and moving images of Van Gogh paintings that you were literally standing in. It was a full-on sensory experience and a way to enjoy and appreciate art like nothing we four had ever previously encountered.
As part of the experience, there were a number of quotes displayed from Van Gogh’s life, including this one:
That’s it really – I could finish this blog right there, as Van Gogh has summed this up beautifully.
We achieve the progress we want through taking small steps regularly over a period of time. In coaching, there is a name for this –
The One Degree Principle.
We know that when we try to change too many things at once, the chances are we will end up changing nothing. We also know that sticking to big changes can be really hard and trying to shoe horn major new habits into an already busy life is unlikely to be sustainable.
On the flip side, taking a tiny step change each day can seem so utterly inconsequential when dealing with difficult or entrenched situations, as to be not worth bothering about (especially when it comes to what we are believing about ourselves. More on that here.)
The One Degree Principle basically says that small changes done regularly over a period of time brings you to a completely different outcome. You can read more about the importance of making one small change and the One Degree Principle here.
So when it comes to creating habits for this season, keep it simple and keep it small.
Start off with some self awareness questions:
- What does this next season look like for me?
- What are the main things that will take up most of my time?
- What are my priorites and what is most important to me – and how well does my time use reflect this?
- What do I need to ensure that I am well in body, mind and soul – as much as that is within my control?
- How do I want to feel at the end of the year? What therefore does that mean that I start doing now?
This simple exercise allows us to become clear on small things that we can introduce that will support our lives. It might be adding in some exercise each week. Perhaps doing a weekly food plan to keep costs down and save time. Or meeting up with a friend regularly for support and accountability. Maybe switching off tech at a certain time, or having a completely tech free day once a week.
If we are dealing with the ongoing exhaustion of grief and loss, it might be we choose to cut back or say no to one thing a week to create more space and give ourselves bigger margins. More on creating grief habits in my previous musings.
Maybe it is allowing 10 minutes a day of stillness and quiet to allow our jumbled and weary brains a chance to untangle.
This is not about making big changes, but about creating habits that are simple, small and that stick. After all, as Van Gogh said, Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.
Food for thought for this week.