BRX Pro Tip: How to Change a Habit
Stone Payton: Welcome back to Business RadioX Pro Tips, Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, based largely on your input and counsel, I really think in more recent years, I’ve kind of changed my approach to achieving goals, to being not so focused on the the end goal as much as identifying habits that will lead me there. But I got to confess, I still don’t feel like I have a great handle on how to change a habit.
Lee Kantor: Yeah, changing a habit can be tough and it can be challenging. But there are some basics to any habit, and if you understand how habits work, it becomes a lot easier to change a habit.
Lee Kantor: So, typically habits are driven by a three part loop. The first part of the loop is some sort of a trigger or cue that initiates that habit. So, something happens and then you begin doing whatever that habit is. Number two is then the routine or the behavior or the action itself, whatever it is. And number three, there’s some sort of reward you get that’s a benefit or some sort of satisfaction you get from whatever that behavior is.
Lee Kantor: So, that’s the three part kind of loop that every habit has. So, in order to change a habit, you got to disrupt the loop somewhere by modifying one of those three components.
Lee Kantor: And it’s important when you’re modifying these things is to start small. Don’t try to do some dramatic habit change at go. But if you can break the habit change into smaller, manageable steps, you’re going to have a better chance of succeeding.
Lee Kantor: And number two, leverage some sort of accountability. Share whatever it is your goal is with somebody who can hold you accountable, or use some sort of an app or technology that holds you accountable that you’ll actually pay attention to and listen to. But accountability is an important component to having any type of change.
Lee Kantor: And whatever it is you’re trying to change, commit to that change for at least 30 days. You know, this isn’t something that happens overnight. Habits take time to form, so habits take time to change. So, commit to practicing whatever this new behavior is consistently for at least 30 days before you decide whether you’re going to ban it or not.
Lee Kantor: Changing a habit requires awareness and intention and consistency, so all three of those things have to be in place if you want that habit to change, so you can’t kind of shortcut any of those steps. And remember that progress is always more important than perfection. And don’t forget to celebrate those small wins along the way.
