6 Tips That Will Actually Help You Build Positive Habits

We’re talking about positive habits today; how to build them and how to make them stay.

It’s summer break for me right now and I’m in that weird waiting period between going back to college and being on break. I don’t want to start anything new because I’m gonna be going back soon but I also don’t really have anything to do right now. Most days have been difficult because I don’t have much of a routine anymore. So I’m working on building positive habits during this time and here is what I’ve learned:

How to build positive habits

Self-Awareness: Your self-awareness plays a big part in how well you are able to achieve a goal. If you focus on yourself and understand your emotions and patterns, you will be able to figure out when you’re not in a good place before everything comes crashing and burning. Be careful about how you spend your energy and be careful about the new habits that you are picking up.
Consistency: Positive habits aren’t a one-time thing. They have to be consistent. You might not always want to, but consistency is what creates a habit. If it is healthy for you, sometimes you just need to do it even when you don’t want to.
Understand your surroundings: Let’s talk about negative habits. When I have a negative habit, it usually starts when I’m surrounded by negativity. Being surrounded by negativity makes me a more negative person. It fuels your negative habits. The same can go for positive habits. If you are trying to build positive habits, surround yourself with positive things, people, and habits. If you can do this, it’s very important. For example, one way I surround myself with positivity is by making monthly vision boards. I’ve been doing this for years and it has been an incredible resource in my growth journey.
Set yourself up for success: Motivation is not something permanent. No one is always motivated. In order to have healthy habits, you don’t need more motivation. Instead, you need to set yourself up for success more often. In the book Atomic Habits, author James Clear explains that something as simple as setting out your workout clothes the night before can make a huge difference in your success rate of actually working out in the morning. By holding yourself accountable and making your goals easier, you are setting yourself up for success.
Listen to yourself: Your habits aren’t going to be successful if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Take breaks when you need them and listen to what your body and mind need. For example, I have more stomach aches when I need a mental break from something. If you train yourself to realize when you need a reset, you can use that knowledge to shift your habits and mindset before you start feeling worse.
Be Kind to Yourself: Don’t be hard on yourself for making mistakes. Building positive habits is difficult and no one has it completely mastered.

Final thoughts

Building healthy habits is difficult, but it is possible. It’s about checking your energy and being aware of it. I do believe that your mindset changes where you are in life and can set you up for success. So don’t let your surroundings determine how you live. Choose to have a positive mindset, and positive habits and situations will follow.

Those are my biggest tips and lessons learned to build positive habits. Comment below or send me your thoughts on the podcast episode.