Last week, we discussed the 4 things to remember when setting goals. This week I would like to take a closer look into how your everyday habits affect you goals and how to align the two for success.
The very first article I had the privilege of writing for this blog several years ago was titled, “Make Good Habits and Become Their Slaves.” The most imperative and proven success principle in the world is to better align your habits in support of that which you want to become, achieve, and accomplish. Without this alignment of habits with your goals, you are unlikely to succeed in fulfilling them this year.
You have probably heard the statement that it takes approximately 21 days to form a new habit. This statement became popular after Dr. Maxwell Maltz did a scientific study that culminated in a report that stated, “it requires a minimum of about 21 days for an old mental image to dissolve and a new one to jell.” Many forget the words “minimum of” in this popular saying.
However, according to new research conducted by Phillippa Lally, a health psychology researcher, the more appropriate time frame for developing a new habit is actually an average of 66 days. However, regardless of the time frame needed, it comes down to a daily choice.
4 Steps to Alignment
- Conduct a quick self-evaluation: Be honest with your evaluation.
- What are my Goals for 2016?
- What habits will be needed to achieve these goals?
- How do my current habits align with my current goals?
- What do I need to change?
- Write EVERYTHING down: If you already have your goals written down, then write down the habits you need to develop to meet these goals.
- Read these goals and habits every morning: The quickest way to not accomplish something is to forget what you are pursuing. Know every morning when you get out of bed what you need to accomplish to push yourself further to a successful year.
- Be mindful of your mistakes: It is so easy to let failure rule our future. A failed day does not mean a failed week. Be mindful of the mistakes keeping you back and actively work against them.
You determine the success you will have this year. Work through these 4 steps and actively align you habits in order to accomplish your goals.
