\n\n\n\nThey Rationalise and Renegotiate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The first reason is one that will resonate with everyone. When it comes to sticking to a new habit, we tend to rationalize. When something gets difficult or there’s a temptation to do something else to skip in favor of another action, that’s more tempting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our minds immediately start rationalizing why it’s okay to temporarily abandon that habit and do what we said we weren’t going to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These thoughts can manifest in the form of “It’s a special occasion, so this is an exception” or “Just one time won’t hurt,” or it can even be rationalizing breaking a habit by saying that “You deserve this after working so hard.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the moment, these thoughts sound incredibly rational, but what they do is sabotage us. Once we start to believe and act upon these rationalizations, sticking to anything at all is near impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After rationalization, we tend to renegotiate. Renegotiate, as in procrastinating. You had the mindset to start something but end up doing something the total opposite. Renegotiating because you’re too tired and have persuaded yourself that whatever it is can be put off tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did you know that rationalization and renegotiation are just other habits? They’re bad ones, and these are the ones we don’t want to keep around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They Don’t Change Their Environment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You know how they say, “if you sit in a barbershop for long enough, you’ll end up getting a haircut?” The same goes for new habits. People expect to completely reshape their lives but not change a single thing about their surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Environmental triggers dramatically hold people back from sticking to those new habits. Junk food in the cabinet leads to you breaking your promise to eat healthier. Your phone always buzzing with notifications leads to your breaking that promise to stay offline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They Start Too Many Habits At Once<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You have this vision of being your best self starting from tomorrow. Your best self wakes up early in the morning, exercises, eats healthily, mediates, and goes to work to achieve goals. This right here is when maintaining a new habit goes out the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s wonderful that people get so inspired and excited to improve upon themselves, but taking on and planning to stick to too numerous habits means it’s not likely a single one will stick. It’s a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and permitting yourself to quit once you fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s best to start with one or two habits maximum so that you can genuinely sense the difference those habits have on your life. You want to examine how these new habits affect your ability to manage your time wisely. This will cause a ripple effect that can help you form future habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same also applies to starting with a habit that is too big. Setting an unrealistic goal doesn’t mean you’ll be able to achieve it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n