So we’ve made it out of 2014 in relatively one piece and are facing a fresh new year. It’s a blank slate really, and that’s the way I like to look at it. Forget detoxing, and re-booting and resolutions. Let’s just decide to start new habits. Good habits. Healthy habits. We’ve all heard the phrase: It takes 21 days to form a new habit. I’m afraid that it is a myth. Reality is that it takes about 2 months to form a habit – but come on, what’s 2 months relative to a lifetime of a good habit??
So instead of making lists of what I want to give up, I want to make a list of new habits I want to form. In case it’s not on your list already, quickly add: DRINK TEA to the top. It’s such an easy habit to form. It’s tasty and healthy and you know I could fill this page ten times over with reasons why this is a habit everyone should form.
I want to be realistic about my new habits. So I’m committing myself to a schedule I think I can keep – regular yoga classes and running as part of my exercise regimen. I developed shin splints after several years of rigorous running, so am forced to reconsider my habits. Second, I’m already an avid reader, but am committing to the habit of making a few of my books non-fiction. The topic can vary. Next, I love podcasts and listen to them in the car all of the time – so my new habit will be finding a podcast I wouldn’t normally listen to…and just give it a go. The last habit on my list is a big one: de-cluttering. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to master that one, but I think I’ll start by getting into the habit of putting something in a ‘trash’ or ‘give away’ box every day. I won’t be overwhelmed with the task of de-cluttering all at once.
Most important of all, I’ve wrangled an accountability buddy into this – which means we check in with eachother every month to check on how each is doing with their list of habits.
Some things will be easier than others, but I know I’ve got the best habit already down: DRINK TEA! I’ll let you know how I do with the rest 🙂