Habits vs Goals: Adjust your daily habits to win at life

As we start the new year, there is a temptation to set massive outcome driven goals & resolutions, however they rarely create lasting change.

Consider instead making small changes to your daily HABITS and watch your goals happen like magic.

We first make our habits, then our habits make us – John Dryden

Many people start the New Year with goals like these: “I will lose 10 kgs, or I will save $5,000”. It’s a common theme to want to change your life and try to make everything exactly as you desire. Wave that magic wand and change your life for the better.

Don’t get me wrong, goal setting is very important, but too many people put the emphasis on the end-game, and forget about the tiny, daily action steps that it takes to get there.  Without actually taking the steps, you will never get to the top of the mountain, no matter how much you visualise it, or affirm it.

Losing that 10kgs, might come down to your daily breakfast habit, or whether you drink a glass of wine at night. Saving that $5k, might be as simple as making your own lunch for work and not buying expensive takeaways.

Lots of people have said to me, “Ugh, 2015 was so tough! I could barely make it through. I was just holding on ‘til the end.”

Now we’re a month into the new year. And I wonder what has really changed in your world?

Life is tough as a consequence of past negative choices.

The fierce truth is that the reason 2015 was tough was because you were dealing with the consequences of previous negative choices made by yourself, or your loved ones.

Those negative choices are your daily habits of thinking and action!!

If you’re still running the same habits, nothing will be different at the end of this year, you’ll be in the same place, with another year of your life gone.

An idea of change…

The start of the new year is really just an idea. It’s an idea of transition, an idea of a fresh start, and it is a perfect time to take stock, reflect and discover what things you want to let go of, and what things you want to bring into this new year.

But, really, the new year is just an idea. So, it doesn’t actually mean anything in your day-to-day life.

If you didn’t know what the date was; it would be just another day.

Instead of thinking about big New Year goals, consider this…

• What are the daily habits that you are living by that you would like to adjust?
• Are the habits that you’re doing on a daily basis nourishing you, or are they dragging you down?
• What habits in your day to day life make you happy, fulfilled, nourished?
• What habits invest in your energy bank account: improving well-being, health and development?
• What habits draw from your energy bank account of health and well-being and energy?

Habits can be action based external habits, or internal thinking habits. Your thoughts go down habitual pathways day after day.  What are your habitual daily actions? What are your habitual daily thoughts?  When thge balance of your habits draw from your reserves eventually you will come to a point where there will be a deficit, and you will have to “pay back” what you have drawn from your energy bank balance, in sickness, low energy, and time away from other things you love.

Habits that drain you & make life more difficult.

Here’s some examples of habits that drain from your energy bank balance. If your habits tip too far over here, you’re going to face negative consequences and life will get tougher.

• Drinking soft drinks.
• Processed & junk foods.
• Emotional Eating
• Whingeing, Complaining. Focussing on what’s missing.
• Social media addiction. Yes I see you taking your phone into the toilet.
• Yelling at your kids.
• Beating yourself up, with perfectionism and “if only…”
• Overspending.

Habits that fill you up & make life more joyful.

When you do more of these, life gets easier and more joyful.

• Focussing on what’s going well.  Gratitude.
• Journalling and reflecting on your deepest thoughts.
• Meditation or hypnosis.
• Moving your body.
• Eating nourishing whole foods.
• Drinking water.
• Cuddling your kids.
• Being fully present with your loved ones, looking them in the eye. Listening to them.
• Screen time limits for all family members. Finish at least 1 hour before bed.

As we’re a few weeks into the new year, I would really encourage you to take stock and really become aware of what habits you are running on a daily basis. Do they invest in your energy, your happiness, the amount of love and joy in your life? Or do they detract?

We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle

Reflect on what you’re doing, your actions and your choices, and the consequences that those choices are having in your life. Really take stock of what you’re doing, what CHOICES you are making on a daily basis.  Take responsibility for those choices and realise their cumulative power, and you will start to create better consequences in your life.

When you do this consistently, your life will start to feel like it’s easier. Even though it isn’t any easier; you are just making more empowered and more conscious choices.

Reflect on those habits now and let me know which one habit you would like to adjust or amend. For this month, which habit would you like to focus on that is going to increase your energetic bank balance?

Let me know in the comments below!

with love,
Kylie