Forming New Habits: Change What Doesnt Work

After you have created some simple habits to change in your life, take a step back and 
look at the results so far. This is where you can decide if you will continue with this 
habit, or if it might be time to call it quits, or just adjust part of it.


When a New Habit Doesnt Work

To start with, every new habit you start is not going to be something you stick with 
forever. There are some that absolutely will and will probably change your life for the 
better. But just like other things you attempt in your life, they are not all going to be 
perfect from beginning to end.

It is okay to take a step back, consider where you are, and whether or not once of your 
new habits is working for you. This doesnt mean you chose a bad habit, but that it 
doesnt work for you personally, for your schedule, your lifestyle, or where you are right 
now in your life. Remember that your priorities and goals can change as you go through 
life, and its okay for your habits to change along with them.


Did You Give it Enough Time?

Before you decide to ditch or change one of your new habits, give it enough time. The 
amount of time changes depend on the type of habit and your personal goals, but about 
30 days is a good amount of time. This is long enough where it became something you 
did every day, and should have gotten to a point where you didnt even have to think 
about it. 

However, if you have been doing one habit for 2 months, and you still dont see any 
benefits from it, or it still feels like pulling teeth every time you get up to do it, then 
maybe it isnt the right one for you.


Tracking Your Progress and Making Changes

This is why tracking your new habits is so important. You can actually see how long you 
have been doing it, if you have been consistent, and in what ways it is benefiting you. If 
you start a new job and put in the work, you expect to be paid for your efforts. The same 
can be said for when you work really hard on a new habit or goal, and it just doesnt pay 
off in the end. You want to choose habits you can keep track of and that will have some 
type of benefit for you.
 

