“Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.” ― Charles Duhigg
Quora Question: When can we say that we have already developed a good reading habit?
I think a habit takes hold when you no longer must put mental effort into doing it.
A habit starts off hard because we must put extra mental effort into planning and executing it. It’s like when we first learned how to drive a car. We got in and ran through a mental checklist of everything we needed to do to get started. Do we have to adjust our seat or mirrors? Do I have my seatbelt on? Once everything was ready, then we could drive off.
It’s the same mental energy we must use to establish a new habit whether it’s reading, exercise or eating healthy.
In establishing a reading habit, our mental effort goes into choosing a book, what time of day is best for reading your book, as well as staying focused in reading the book once you have sat down.
As driving a car has become a “non-thinking” habit, reading, exercise and eating healthy also becomes a “non-thinking” habit. We just do it. When you can name off your favorite author or favorite books or grab a book anytime you have free time, that’s when you realize you have developed a reading habit.
Another indication of a developed habit is when you “crave” that activity. There are sometimes when I turn on the television, surf the channels and nothing catches my attention. I find myself turning of the television and grabbing a book instead. Sometimes a can read a book for more than an hour and never realize how much time has passed.
I think the biggest thing to keep in mind about developing habits is your “why” behind it. Awareness is key! Some habits take hold easier because of your passion in achieving a specific goal. My reading habit developed when I wanted to learn how to change some of my undesirable behaviors. The desire to change, was the first step in changing. Along my change journey, I developed not only a reading habit but also an exercise habit and a journaling habit.
So here are some takeaways I would like to share:
- Your “why” will help with the “how”. It’s like putting your brain on notice to start looking for ways to help you achieve a desired outcome.
- Keep in mind, change is never easy. If it was, everyone would do it.
- There is no hack in developing a habit. It takes mental effort and desired outcome to keep you motivated.
- Track your progress. Celebrate the little wins along the way.
- Give yourself Grace. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a habit!
Thank you for taking time out to read this post. I would love to learn more about who you are and what you do. Feel free to connect with me through a Meetup group.
- Confident Strides Women’s Empowerment Network https://bit.ly/CSWENMeetup
- Confident Strides Personal Development Network Group https://bit.ly/CSPDNMeetup
- Confident Strides Women’s Professional Network https://bit.ly/CSWPNMeetup
- Confident Strides Entrepreneurs Network https://bit.ly/CSENMeetup
Quote Source: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/habits
To connect with me: https:///confidentstrides
Sweet N Social 