Habits. I’ve been seeing random quotes about habits recently. It’s always intriguing to me when a repeat message shows up. What is the Universe trying to tell me about habits? Here’s two that stuck in my head:
- You become what you habitually do.
- Optimism is a learned habit.
Why is it that dropping good habits is easy, but dropping bad habits is hard?
I realized I got out of the habit of sitting outside this summer, as it was always so darn hot. I love sitting outside, enjoying my backyard, reading or doing crosswords. It’s been cooler for weeks and I found I was still sitting inside! It made me think about what other good habits I’ve let slip.
When I retired it was all about creating new habits because my work habits were gone. I created a morning journal habit that still exists and is where some of these thoughts about habits were jotted down. I’ve tried to create other good habits through my retirement years. Interesting that no other one has seemed to last long. Yoga was a multiple times-a-week habit for a while and is down to once a week, maybe. I find I allow myself to not go for many reasons, showing how good habits are easy to break.
I tried various cardio approaches for exercise, and cardio drumming is my current habit. Yet, I’ve recently allowed other life activities to disrupt my bi-weekly sessions! Regularly cooking dinners was a habit and is now by the wayside. Having a learning topic in progress has also slipped to the side this past year. I’ve wanted to do regular kayaking, weekly dinner dates, and beach walks, but don’t take the steps to make them happen at all, much less habitually!
And yet, some bad habits just seem to persist like too much snacking, too often doing the Compare & Despair, and being judgmental. Why couldn’t one of those simply slip to the side?
Thinking about a habit of being optimistic made me re-look at my Positivity Practices. I have made strides to put positive psychology into practice. When I review the list, I’m pleasantly surprised I’m doing most habitually! At least attempting to do most habitually.
Pat’s Positivity Practices for Personal Growth
Savor the Little Things in Life
Morning Journal & Daily Gratitude
Invest in Experiences
Intentional Connections – IRL & Virtual
Embrace Self-Empowering Beliefs; Shift Negative Self-talk to Positive
Shift Compare & Despair to Observe & Admire
Understand your Triggers; Use your Glimmers
Look Inside for Validation; Listen to Your Intuition
Appreciate Time Abundance – Just Be
Connect to Nature
Be Active – Daily Movement – Functional Fitness
Adequate Sleep & Manage Body Maintenance
Encourage your Love of Learning
Get Crafty
This review was a good reminder to once again put intentional connections on my to-do list, to re-embrace gratitude listing, and to take time to reflect and just be (preferably sitting outside, enjoying my backyard.)
I want to be an active, positive-outlook, outdoor-loving, adventuresome foodie with a strong sense of belonging to a tribe. “You become what you habitually do”. I need to begin doing some things habitually to make that happen!
What do you do habitually that has enabled you to become who you want to be?
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retirementtransition 
Ah, habits. I agree – why don’t the bad ones fall aside? I am working hard on the food habits and am happy to report that as of right now, it’s “near the curb.” But it’s so easy to just let it slip back. I do the gratitude daily and find that an easy one. I usually fall off the exercise one when I get injured. Fingers crossed that I stay off that train. I love swimming but never take my trip to the city at the right time to make that happen… why, I wonder? I am going to the pool for Aquafit but not for swimming. Have I moved on to other things or am I just not making it a priority? As usual, your post gives me food for thought.
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Bernie, It is interesting to ponder why we let our good habits fall to the side! I realized some for me (the slide) happened when I was dealing with grief. And some were just not giving me a great deal of satisfaction. Your questions gave me food for thought as well!
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Yes it’s so easy for a variety of reasons to change our actions. Grief is certainly understandable to find ourselves on a different path. I am still thinking about why I don’t swim…
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A great post Pat! I usually only acknowledge my bad habits, so you’ve helped me look at the good ones I’ve started since retiring, like journaling when I’m confused or blue (maybe the definition of adult boredom?) and taking time to read it again later, keeping a Mon-Friday mindset, trying things despite my fears (and stopping if I want to), working out long even if I try to find reasons not to, putting things away after I use them than waiting “til later”, checking in with at least one friend or family member everyday, getting enough sleep rather than staying up late watching reruns, eating dinner earlier than later and always making a salad even if I’m too tired to do it! Small things that always help me feel I’m being who I want to be that are now good habits!
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Judi, I love your list of good habits! Some great ones for me to consider – like salad with dinner or connecting with friends/family member more regularly (that one’s slipped for me too!). Isn’t the idea of creating habits to be who you want to be a wonderful way to think about it?
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Hmmm… I have a few rituals that I love (gearing up with coffee and Wordle/Connections in the morning, slowing down with dinner and a few shows most evenings) now that I’m retired and have the time. I guess they get me where I want to be because they make me happy. Habits? I try to walk 3+ miles every day which keeps me healthy and active. I’d like to create a regular writing habit but that remains something I do when inspired and have the time.
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Janis – Writing for me seems to be when I’m inspired as well… not a regular habit. I think your phrase “(my habits) get me where I want to be” is what it’s all about. I definitely need to re-start some of the habits I had a year ago… like regularly cooking, walking more regularly. Because the woman who does those things in the woman I want to be!
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What do you do habitually that has enabled you to become who you want to be? That is an excellent question. I suppose for me it has been adopting some mantras that I use to keep myself going in the proper direction. Mantras like: positive begets positive, or when in doubt, don’t, or good for her, not for me. Nothing profound obviously, but I do fall back on them when faced with dilemmas. They remind me of who I want to be.
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Ally, I like the “good for her, not for me”. It’s similar to my “you do you” that I often need to pull out as Compare & Despair is a big challenge for me. I’m going to think on the “when in doubt, don’t”. I definitely need a mantra about changing the story I’m telling myself! I like thinking about mantras as being habitual… great insight!
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Always a timely topic for me!
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Nancy, I’m glad I hit something timely! It’s always a bit of a conundrum for me to post these kinds of things… my personal life challenges. It’s lovely when someone tells me it’s helped them!
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Hi Pat – I love how you approach everything so intentionally. I too have let a few “good habits” fall by the wayside over the last year or so. Things got in the way and then I never got around to picking them back up again. I really need to get back to Tai Chi (and relearn all the moves again!) but it’s an early morning class and I seem to find it hard to make myself get there in time – I’d rather be out walking while it’s still cool. I wonder if old habits get replaced by new habits that fit our lifestyle better? We just need to ensure that the new habits are “good” ones so we’re replacing good with good – something for me to think about….
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Leanne, I think replacing a good habit with another good habit is wonderful… like walking replacing TaiChi. And I like how you talk about how we can evolve habits as life changes. My challenge is I’ve not replaced the good habits with other god habits. For me, habit formation does need to be intentional. I’m working to get back to my regular exercise habits.
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