A huge surprise in the organizing process can be how tenacious old habits are. They may not serve us or propel us forward but oh how comforting they are! Expect a bit of struggle and be patient and kind with yourself. The person who succeeds is the one who is tenacious. Those 'bad' habits got ingrained because you worked on making them an intrinsic part of your life. Yeah, I know, it wasn't conscious but still you were relentless and devoted. Shift your time, energy and intention to the new habits that will help make your life and environment better. It's a matter of choice, practice and desire. One day those new and improved habits will be an ingrained part of your being.
Here a few tips to help ease the journey:
- Be specific about the habit(s) you want to cultivate. Know why they appeal to you.
- Don't take on more than 2 at a time. Build on small successes rather than overwhelming yourself with a bevy of new and improved habits.
- It takes 21 consecutive days to ingrain a new habit so mark off the days on a calendar and start over as many times as it may take.
- Plan a reward!
When I come home I have a choice to fling my keys into the space and create a big problem when I need to leave or I can place then carefully in one designated spot each time. One action is not more complicated or time consuming than the other. But the results are remarkably different, aren't they? I think you'll find it to be so with all of your 'bad' habits. Be as generous with your praise and patience as you would with a child. Perspective is everything in life.
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