Habits and routines co-exist. They exist to make the other one successful and they exist to help us meet our goals. Their existence, though, can be mundane and restrictive. It's a love/hate relationship to be sure.
Habits are "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary." We look both ways before crossing the street. We brush our teeth before bed. Established habits are done without much thought or planning.
But, habits are behaviors that take time to implement. We have to be committed to them so we remember to do them or not do them.
Routines are "commonplace tasks, chores, or duties done regularly or at specified intervals." Morning routines make it easy to leave for work on time. Evening routine make it easy to wind down for better sleep. Routines provide structure.
But with that structure, routines can be easily thrown aside in frustration. Without flexibility, they can be ignored for the sake of time.
A well-thought out habit is one that can change our life. If we combine that new habit (or the removal of a bad one) into a group of other useful behaviors, we create a routine. Let me explain.
Let’s say your health goal requires you to go to the gym as many days as possible and you prefer morning workouts. First, a good habit to get into is setting out your clothes and preparing your recovery beverage the night before. Since you already brush your teeth and complete a moisturizer routine before bed, taking a few minutes after those activities to prep for the next morning would be a good idea. One habit added to other habits makes a routine.
Then, a good habit to break is drinking alcohol every night which you know messes with your sleep and will impact your motivation to exercise first thing in the morning. Let’s say your evening routine is dinner and then to the couch for some TV or scrolling. Where you would grab a beer or mix a cocktail, you could instead prepare a cup of tea and a glass of ice water to take with you to the couch. Keep the cue (dinner is over, time for TV) and the reward (relaxing from a long day), but change the behavior in the middle (tea for alcohol).
Habits and routines are the vessels that get you to your health goals. They should be given the same energy and the same respect. While structure makes them work at first, flexibility is needed to integrate them long-term. Find a way to love them even on the days you really hate them.
Not sure where to start setting good goals and then habits and routines to get to them? Let’s talk. Schedule a complimentary strategy session at https://newleafwellnessllc.as.me/
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