Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? Have they been successful? By about this time of year, research shows that most New Year's resolutions have failed.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a听habit.鈥� 鈥揂ristotle
Just like New Year's resolutions, making sustainable choices in our lives is essentially about听building听habits.听Now that we know resolutions don't work, what is an effective way to build sustainable听habits听in our lives?
Whether it's eating less animal products, being certain to recycle, biking and taking public transportation more often, remembering that reusable mug, learning to grow food听or any of the sometimes overwhelming amount of things we can do to decrease our personal carbon footprints, here are five听ways the science of creating effective听habits听can help!
Focus on one habit听at a time
鈥攖he more you exercise willpower, the more of it you have, and the "willpower muscle" gets tired throughout the day.
Creating or changing a听habit听requires willpower, so we have to ration and build what we have over time. Trying to start or change many new听habits听at the same time is like trying to do a triathlon off the couch. A training program is a better idea.
Similarly, if you're looking to make a big change, break it down into smaller steps. Trying to become vegetarian? Start with not eating meat just at breakfast. Once you've mastered that, move to lunch听and supper.
Start with keystone habits
According to Charles Duhigg,听, a听habit听is a cognitive 'loop' that is kicked off with a trigger. After you put on your socks, you probably put on your shoes without thinking twice.
Keystone听habits, he also describes, are particularly strong听habits听that can be triggers to keep other听habits听going. Duhigg suggest we figure out听what our keystone听habits听are and leverage them.
Environment is key
Have you noticed how it's easier to study in the library than near your bed? Setting up your environment to encourage the听habit听literally is setting yourself up for success. Whatever听habit听you want to start with, think about the changes you can make to your immediate environment and the environments you can stay away from to help you.
Want to start drinking a glass of water when you wake up? Make sure to put one on the nightstand before you go to bed.听
This also applies to the social environment you find yourself in鈥攈abits听can often be social, so hang out with people who have听habits听you'd like to adopt or who will support you in building new听habits听for yourself.
Could the young but realize how soon they will become mere walking bundles of听habits, they would give more heed to their conduct while in the plastic state. We are spinning our own fates, good or evil, and never to be undone. Even the smallest stroke of virtue or of vice leaves its never so little scar.鈥澨�揥illiam James
Get back on the wagon
Of course we all intend not to "fall off the wagon" with a new听habit, but it happens to all of us. When you eat some bacon after resolving to eat vegetarian, remember that it's part of the process. Use it as an opportunity to troubleshoot your strategy鈥攎aybe you can make another change in your environment or you need better tools鈥攁nd recommit yourself to the听habit.听
Give it at least 60 days
One influential study showed听it takes an average of ; that's听two months. Plan to put in at least that amount of time and energy consciously choosing the new听habit. Stick with it. It will pay off when the听habit听and its rewards becomes automatic and you don't have to think about it again.
