Blueprint to Better 004 - Building Healthy Habits

The importance of positive habits and eliminating bad habits cannot be overstated in shaping our lives and overall well-being. Positive habits act as a foundation for personal growth, productivity, and happiness. By consistently engaging in constructive behaviors such as regular exercise, mindful practices, and nurturing relationships, we cultivate resilience and foster a healthier mindset.

Conversely, identifying and eliminating bad habits that hinder our progress, like procrastination, excessive screen time, or unhealthy coping mechanisms, aids us in breaking free from self-destructive cycles. Embracing positive habits and shedding negative ones paves the way for a more fulfilling and purposeful life, enabling us to unlock our full potential and experience the transformative power of intentional living. Today’s Blueprint to Better offers an easy guide to habit creation.

The Easy Guide to Habit Creation

1. Start Small with Habit Stacking: Choose a simple habit that aligns with your goal and attach it to an existing routine. For example, if you want to read more, commit to reading one page of a book right after brushing your teeth in the morning. Starting small makes it easier to build momentum and ensures consistency.
2. Identify Your Cue and Craving: Pay attention to what triggers your desired habit and what drives your motivation to perform it. Is it a specific time of day, a particular place, or an emotional state? Connect the habit with a positive craving, making it enjoyable and rewarding.
3. Make It Easy and Specific: Simplify the habit to make it easy to accomplish. Break it down into actionable steps and remove any obstacles in your way. For instance, if you want to exercise regularly, start with a short 5-minute workout routine at home.
4. Establish a Reward System: Celebrate your success after completing the habit. Rewards provide immediate satisfaction and reinforce the habit loop. It could be as simple as giving yourself a pat on the back, enjoying a healthy snack, or engaging in a favorite activity.
5. Track Your Progress: Keep a habit tracker to monitor your consistency. Visualizing your progress helps you stay accountable and motivated. You can use a journal, an app, or even a calendar to mark each successful completion.
6. Be Patient and Persistent: Remember that building habits takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and stay persistent, even if you miss a day or encounter setbacks. Focus on progress rather than perfection.
7. Adjust and Evolve: Be open to adjusting your habits as needed. If a particular habit isn't working for you, modify it or try a different approach. Habits should be flexible and adaptable to suit your changing circumstances.
8. Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate significant milestones on your habit-building journey. Reflect on how far you've come and use your achievements as motivation to keep going.

By following this guide, you can harness the power of habits to create positive changes in your life. Remember, it's the small, consistent actions that lead to significant transformations over time. Focus on winning each day, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can create better habits in your life.

We asked IRONWILLED Athlete Jay Barlow what "Building Healthy Habits" means to him:

I truly believe in having a structure in your every day life. With structure comes habits and building those healthy habits on a daily basis should be a very important factor in your life. What habits do for me on a daily basis, as it keeps me levelheaded, because no matter what’s going on in my life as long as I have specific tasks that I need to accomplish throughout the day and it continues to motivate me to get the job done. For me, these healthy habits include working out, staying consistent on my food regiment daily and even drinking a gallon of water a day. I call these my non-negotiables which then keeps me consistent with his daily habits as well. With structure comes consistency. With consistency comes success. Remember that.