Perhaps you’ve heard that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. But studies show that it actually takes around 90 days to really establish and stick with any new habit. Think about it! That’s 4 new habits in a year!
Think about how your life could look completely different with 4 new productive habits in place a year from now! How will it impact your performance, your health, your personal life?
Here are 3 things to consider when trying to establish a new, healthy habit:
1. Put it in writing
Studies show that people with written goals are 30 times more successful than those who have no goals and three times more successful than those who just think about their goals.
Are you trying to hit your sales goals and create better systems? Perhaps you want your new habit to be meditating every morning. The key is to get very specific so you know exactly what you need to do every day and then write it down. For example, you could write, “I spend at least 30 minutes 5 days a week doing lead call follow-ups throughout the week to get to my desired sales targets of _________.” Do you see how specific that is? And it focuses on the positive! Whatever your desired new habit is, get very specific and put it in writing.
2. Understand Your ‘Why’
Next, make a list of reasons why this habit is important to you. This list will come in handy on days where you want to throw in the towel. As in the example above, if you want to make a habit of leading cold calls, list the reasons why that is so important to you. It could be reasons such as:
Increased sales
A better understanding of the market
To push yourself out of your comfort zone
Read your list often, especially on days when you’re tired and don’t feel like practicing your habit. It will keep you motivated to keep going!
3. Reward Yourself
This is the fun part! Decide on a reward ahead of time, and after the 90 days are up, reward yourself! Maybe it’s a nice, long massage or dinner with family. Maybe you’d like to start forming healthier habits, but you don’t know where to begin. Here’s a list of ideas to help get you started:
Meditation to start the day
Calling leads on a regular schedule
Posting to social media daily
Organizing your inbox
Getting up earlier
Lunch hour exercise
The list is endless! To help you succeed on your 90-day journey, Launch Grow Harvest has created a 90-Day Habit Tracker. There’s space to write out your desired new habit, a list of why it’s so important, and your reward for sticking with it! Simply check off each day that you complete your habit and watch your progress! Keep it in your planner, on your desk, or on a bulletin board where you’ll be sure to see it every day. At the end of 90 days, you will have a great sense of accomplishment and positive results.
Download your 90-Day habit builder below.