Make Good Habits Stick By Doing These 7 Things

Many people can’t stick to a routine or build lasting habits for several reasons:

• The habit is too hard to do
• Starting too many tasks at once
• Losing motivation
• Lack of discipline
• Changes in routine
• Feeling discouraged when results aren’t fast enough

But the good news is that you can conquer these struggles by doing only a few things. In this article, we’ll guide you through all the steps to create habits that stick. We’ll also share how long you need to stick to habits until they becomes second nature.

How to make habits stick

Here’s what you can do to create habits that stick and set yourself up for success:

1. Start small
2. Set systems
3. Create triggers
4. Track your progress
5. Be patient
6. Reward yourself
7. Enjoy it

Start small

Starting small is the trick to make habits stick. Tackling too much at once is like trying to finish a whole meal in one bite. In other words, it is messy, hard, and unsustainable.

Instead, start with something bite-sized. If you want to start journaling, write a sentence a day. If you want to get fit, start with a five-minute stretch.

What’s simple may vary from one person to another. But the main point is to start with something so simple for you that it is easy to repeat it.

Set systems

You also need to set systems, not goals. Having goals can motivate you to start, but systems make you stick to a routine. Think of it as a map that guides you to your goals so you won’t get lost and give up.

A system breaks down your goals into small, easy steps. It shifts your focus and energy to what you can do every day. It also makes tasks feel easier to do so that you can remain consistent without pressure.

An example of a system would be to jog daily instead of aiming to lose 10 pounds. Besides that, you can read a chapter a day instead of aiming to read ten books a month. 

Create triggers

Having triggers for your tasks also helps you in maintaining consistency. They act as reminders for you to do the tasks, so it is easier to make good habits stick. 

Your trigger can either be a place or an action. For example, sitting on a yoga mat can cause you to start stretching. Carrying a water bottle with you daily can make you drink more water. 

Creating cues for your tasks also helps you form a routine that feels effortless. Soon enough, the new tasks will become second nature to you, and you won’t need triggers.

Track your progress

The secret to making good habits stick is to track your progress. It lets you see how far you’ve come and motivates you to keep going. Plus, you can’t improve what you don’t track. 

There are many ways for you to track your progress, such as:

• Keeping a notebook to jot down your daily logs
• Using a calendar to mark off each day you do the task
• Downloading an app to track on-the-go
• Using a spreadsheet tracker

Use a spreadsheet tracker if you want an easy yet complete tracking experience. It keeps everything visual. So, you get to see your streaks and performance data and spot the parts that need improvement.

Want to give it a try? Check out our yearly habit tracker. It has everything you need to stay consistent until you reach your goals.

Be patient

Sometimes, being consistent with your routine also means constantly getting back up every time you fall. Life happens, routines get interrupted, nobody is perfect, and sometimes you forget.

But one slip-up doesn’t mean failure. Think of it like riding a bike. Falling off is a part of learning, but you’ll only fail if you don’t get back on. 

So, if you missed a workout, just try again the next day. Forgot to study a chapter? Double up tomorrow. After all, habits are all about making progress, not perfection. 

Reward yourself 

Did you know that self-rewards can help you to make good habits stick? It is the best way to convince yourself to keep doing the things for which you’ve been rewarded. So, be sure to celebrate your wins from time to time.

But it’s also important to match the reward with the goal so you don’t put all your efforts to waste. If you finished a week of workouts, don’t treat yourself to something unhealthy like snacks. Instead, give yourself a relaxing bath or a new workout outfit.

Our habit tracker has a reward system that lets you set rewards for your goals. So, you get to track progress with it and treat yourself when you hit important milestones. 

Enjoy it

If it feels like a chore, you’ll end up dreading it. So, don’t just do something for the sake of your goals. Find ways to make your tasks fun because you’re more likely to stick to them when you like doing them. 

For instance, you don’t necessarily have to go for the common workout routines to get fit. If you hate running, you can try a sport or dancing. You can even gamify your tasks by tracking streaks with a daily habit tracker and challenge yourself weekly.

How long does it take to make a habit stick?

A study stated that, on average, a person needs to repeat an act for 66 days until it becomes a habit. 

However, it also depends on what you’re trying to build and how often you practice it. That is why some take more than 90 days to form a habit. While some take as quickly as 21 days to make a habit stick. 

For instance, drinking a glass of water every morning is easy. So, it might take around 21 to 28 days to be natural to you. But you might need more time to stick to a workout regime since it is more challenging.

In the end, it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to get there. You’ll be set for success as long as you use these tips we’ve shared.