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Forming New Habits Is Easier Than You May Think

Jaclyn Baker
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Getting into the swing of a new routine can take some getting used to. 

But it is very possible if you put your mind to it.

Want to learn some of the secrets? Keep on reading. 

Find The Meaning 

What do you want, and why do you want it?

Whether you want to start waking up an hour earlier or learn a new language, it’s so important to remember your why.

Let’s talk about waking up early.

Chances are, there is a pretty good reason behind that want. 

Maybe you want more time in the morning to relax or work on hobbies before work, or maybe you’d rather start working earlier so you can have your afternoons and evenings free to spend with family.

When times get tough, remembering your reasons why can help keep you motivated.

Make a Plan

Once you’ve determined what you want, it’s time to think about how you can get there.

Creating a plan can help you stay on track and prevent unnecessary guesswork. Planning out your days/weeks in advance can help bring a bit of the future into the present. 

Continue to Move Forward

Even the most well-thought-out plans don’t always turn out as anticipated.

Working towards your new habit for just one minute a day is far better than skipping a day altogether. All you can do is take one step in front of the other. 

Change Along the Way

Whether you realize it or not, we change a little every day.

We learn. We grow. We thrive.

As time goes on, you may feel like a certain habit/activity no longer aligns with your goals and lifestyle.

Adjusting your routine is not the same as quitting. It all comes down to listening to your body and giving it what it needs.

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going” – Jim Ryun

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Ready to Become a Better Listener?

Jaclyn Baker
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Active listening isn’t always easy – but the good news is, it can be learned. 

Don’t Be a Driver, Be a Passenger

When a friend wants to talk, let them vent. 

In certain situations, the best thing you can do for your friend is be there and listen. 

Instead of driving the conversation, let them take the wheel and say what’s on their mind. 

Hear Between the Lines

Let us know if this scenario sounds familiar.

You: Are you okay? You look a little down?

Friend: Yes, I am fine.

You: Are you sure.

Friend: Ya…

When we’re not feeling our best or having one of those days, it’s so easy to dismiss how we really feel. 

Sometimes we can hold our feelings in or deny them without even noticing. Saying everything is fine when it’s not can quickly become a habit.

When we’re having a bad day, little things like burning our toast or losing our keys can be enough to upset us. 

If you feel like your friend is holding back their feelings, you can try asking them some open-ended questions and see where the conversation goes. 

Wait, Wait, Wait, Respond

You may not always agree with your friends, and that is completely okay.

We all have our own opinions, and you should always stay true to who you are. 

Now, just because you don’t agree with what your friend is telling you doesn’t mean you can’t respect their opinion and be there for them.

Even though you may want to jump in and share your 2 cents, let them finish their thought first.

Step Into Their Shoes

Having empathy for friends and family can help you see the world through their eyes.

It can also help us understand them on a deeper level. 

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” – Bryant H. McGill

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You Can Change Your Mindset

Jaclyn Baker
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Feelings such as anger, sadness and stress are unavoidable in life – but you don’t have to let negative emotions take over. You can change the narrative and your mindset. 

Here’s how…

Get Outside

Connecting with and spending time in nature is such an incredible way to combat worry and anxiety.

There’s nothing like going on a nice walk and breathing in the nice fresh air when you’re not feeling your best.

Now you may be thinking to yourself “That sounds great! I just don’t have the time.”

If you work long hours or are a student, walking away from the computer can be a bit tough, but there are several happy mediums. 

You can take short walks around the block during breaks or bring your computer or reading material outside! Give it a try for a week and see if you notice a difference. 

Healthy Distractions

The brain is not designed for multitasking. It is very difficult to do two things at once well.

If you’re having one of those stressful days, listening to some upbeat tunes or a funny show can help dial down your stress levels quite a bit.

It may not solve everything right away. But it can certainly help speed up the process. 

Acknowledge the Power of Words

Writing down what’s on your mind is a fast and effective way to get thoughts off your chest. 

If the words aren’t coming to you – read instead. Sometimes, a good book can help you better understand what you’re feeling. Or be a great escape!

Phone a Loved One

When in doubt, phoning a friend or family member never hurts.

You can never have too many listening ears on your side. When you’re tired or stressed, it is almost always harder to think through situations rationally. They may be able to help you look at things in a new light.

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Returning to the Present Moment

Jaclyn Baker
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Do you ever catch yourself getting lost in moments that happened weeks, months or even years ago?

Maybe you can’t stop thinking about that job opportunity you turned down…

Or maybe you wish you shared more in-depth feedback during that last meeting…

If we aren’t careful, it’s so easy to get lost in those “should have”, “would have” thoughts. 

Now, our past does play an important role in both our future and present. 

Every single event, both positive and negative, can teach us so many things. The only thing is, when we spend so much time thinking about the past, we can forget to focus on the present.

These tips can help you live in the moment and appreciate every day.

Start Small 

Do you ever catch your mind wondering while doing day-to-day activities such as cooking or cleaning?

If you answered yes, you are not the only one. In fact, it happens to us too!

Now, we all have household chores we don’t love doing, and that’s completely okay. 

But there are plenty of ways you can make those household chores more fun. As time goes on, you may even look forward to them.

It’s all about implementing little things you already love into the activity.

You can play your favorite song on full blast in the background or chat with your best friend on speakerphone.

Add Spontaneity to Your Routine

Ever notice how you always take the same route to work?

Or how you always gravitate towards that blue mug in your cabinet?

When we do the same thing for so long, we often do it without even thinking about it. It’s basically like living on autopilot.

Adding a little spontaneity here and there can encourage creative thinking, boost productivity and help us get out of our own head.

Take a brand new route to work, visit a new grocery store, or read a book by an author you’ve never heard of.

Try it out and see how it goes.

“When you’ve had a life of overthinking, you have the same reaction time and time again.” – Joel Annesley

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4 Techniques To Help Minimize Stress

Jaclyn Baker
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We may not be able to completely avoid stressful events.  But we can minimize its intensity in healthy ways.

Keep on reading to learn more. 

Gratitude Lists

The next time you catch yourself feeling overwhelmed or anxious, hit pause, sit down and say five things out loud you are grateful for.

Don’t take too much time to think about this list. Just say the first 5 things that come to mind. 

Not sure where to begin?

Here are some examples that can help get you started.

1) A beautiful sunny day.

2) That first sip of coffee in the morning.

3) Your best friend.

4) Your favorite comfy socks.

Okay – now it’s your turn! 

Call a Friend

When you’re stressed about something, sometimes the best thing you can do is call a friend to vent or chit-chat. We are all so different and have our own way of looking at things.

Your friend may be able to help you look at what’s bothering you in a new way.

Listen To Your Body

Your stress may be a result of running on a low battery for too long. 

It’s so important to listen to what your body is trying to tell you. 

If you feel like you’ve been working too many hours or feel a sense of unbalance, you may need to change up your routine.

There is nothing wrong with going to bed an hour early or declining an event if you don’t feel up to it. 

Identify Your Stressors

We may not be able to control every stressful event that happens to us.

But if you take some time to identify your main stressors, you may be able to dial down the intensity.

For example, if you find your email inbox overwhelming you can unsubscribe from emails that no longer deliver value or only check emails during business hours.

Give it a try and see what happens!

“No one knows your body like you do. Listen to it. It will tell you what to eat, when to drink, how to sleep and which exercises you need to do. Let your own body be your most trusted personal trainer.” –  Toni Sorenson

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Creating a Healthier Relationship With Your Screens

Jaclyn Baker
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So many of us are guilty of checking our phone first thing in the morning and right before bed.

Sometimes it can feel like notifications never end.

With that being said, everything is okay in moderation and you can develop a healthy relationship with your screens. 

Practice Self Care Away From Your Screen

Sure, social media and gaming apps can be fun, but there are other ways you can pass the time. 

Try exploring different activities that give the same carefree feeling. 

You can dive into a good book, go on a walk or bust out some old board games. 

Switching it up once in a while is a great way to keep things interesting. 

Set Personal Boundaries 

Now you may be thinking to yourself, “I wish I could spend less time in front of the screens, but my job requires lots of screentime.”

Even though it could be tough, there are ways you can work around this.

You can turn your phone and computer off during breaks or challenge yourself to screen-free weekends.

Setting some time to unplug regularly can help you relax and check-in with yourself. 

There is no rule book. It’s all about figuring out what works best for you. 

Get Your Daily Dose of Quiet Time

When was the last time you sat down and let your mind wander freely?

Having some quiet time is just as essential as connecting with others. 

When we’re waiting for water to boil or a friend to call back, it’s so easy to scroll through social media to pass the time.

But that is not the only option. Feeling bored is not a bad thing. Some of our best ideas can come to us when we least expect them.

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Processing Your Emotions Through Writing

Jaclyn Baker
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Processing emotions is not always easy. 

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if we’re angry, disappointed, confused, excited, or all of the above. 

We all process emotions in our way. What works for one person may not necessarily work for you, and that’s okay. However, regular journaling can be very effective. 

Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, keep an open mind. Your talents may surprise you.

Here are three tips that can help you get started. 

Make it a Habit 

Journaling daily for as little as 5 minutes can make a huge difference. It’s all about consistency. 

Journaling your thoughts can help you better understand them and potentially bring up ideas you never even realized you had. Now, there may be days where you feel like you have nothing to say.

On those days, you can list out a few things you are grateful for or even doodle. It’s all about maintaining the habit.

Write in Third Person

Addressing yourself in the third person can make it a bit easier to be more subjective. Give it a try a few times and see what happens. 

Think Back 

Taking a trip down memory lane can be incredibly eye-opening.

When we’re so overwhelmed with emotions, it can be challenging to think rationally and come up with a solution. 

Let’s say you got into a disagreement with a friend and aren’t sure what to do. Take a few deep breaths and think back to the last disagreement you had with a friend. 

Pull out a pen and paper and write down exactly what you did last time to resolve that argument. 

Once you have written down everything you remember, see if any of those tactics can be of use today. Every event in life is a learning experience – even events that happened years ago! 

Memories can get fuzzy over the years, but written down thoughts are always with us. 

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Become Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

Jaclyn Baker
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“The more you seek the uncomfortable, the more you will become comfortable.” – Conor McGregor

Challenge Your Thoughts

When we’re afraid or nervous about something, it’s common for negative thoughts to show up uninvited. 

Just because a negative thought makes its way into your mind doesn’t mean you have to listen to it. 

Whether we realize it or not, we all experience fear and question our thoughts from time to time.

Am I on the right track?

Was that decision wise?

Do people like me? 

Just because you think something doesn’t make it true. Sometimes our thoughts/worries can be confusing and make us feel uncomfortable. 

When something becomes a habit (like worrying) we can often do it without even noticing.

Now, you can’t change a habit you aren’t even aware you have. The first thing you’ll want to do is acknowledge your negative thoughts and question them.  

Why do you think those thoughts entered your mind in the first place? Do you have any proof that whatever you are worried about will happen?

Embrace Uncertainty

Even the most well-thought-out plans don’t always go our way, and that’s okay!

Leaving your house 30 minutes before the grocery store closes doesn’t guarantee you’ll get there on time.  

Studying your textbook inside and out doesn’t guarantee you’ll ace that test. 

There are several things we can do on a day-day basis that can help get us closer to our final goals. 

But even if you do everything by the book, nothing in life is guaranteed. Instead of trying to plan your perfect day, try planning your perfectly imperfect day and see what happens. 

Stare Down Your Fear

When was the last time fear held you back? When was the last time you said no to something you really wanted to do out of fear?

Facing your fears is not something that happens overnight. Depending on the intensity, it can take weeks, months or years to eliminate a fear.

You’ll want to start out doing activities that may make you feel a little uncomfortable, but deep down, you know you can handle.

If you’re afraid to start journalling, write down 25 words.

If you’re afraid to go back to school, spend 15 minutes a day researching programs. 

When in doubt, start small and work your way up. 

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth

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