“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
Your greatest gift is your adaptability. When you can learn to let go of your need to control, life opens up and flows. I am still a work in progress, but I am not so hell bent on having things go “my way”. Life has become more enjoyable and my relationships have significantly improved. I no longer feel as if I have to defend my opinions but rather expand my sense of understanding. Each and every one of us were created with a purpose that this world so desperately needs. As Zig Ziglar so eloquently stated: Man was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness. Know that you are not diminished by anyone else’s opinion.
The reason why things become uncomfortable to people is because we’ve changed just like if we loose weight or gain weight. We have to make the necessary changes to accommodate the changes. You are no longer the person you once were. Unlike weight gain, in life, we should want to expand and grow. There is nothing like becoming a bigger more expansive version of yourself through personal development. It truly makes you a more attractive person in the end.
A woman asked “faster alone, farther together?” I answered it takes both, at the right time. Working alone in the beginning helps to gain clarity and focus on your goals, but knowing when to shift gears to build your team will take you farther. A leader knows when it’s time to build. When driving a car with manual transmission, we have to pay attention to when the engine seems to be overworking, that’s when it’s time to shift. Accelerating always requires shifting into higher gears. Failing to shift at the right time may leave you revved up going no where.
“Success is something you attract by the person you become ” ― 
Sweet N Social 