How to stick to your plans Part 2

How to stick to your Plans Part 1 gave some tips on how to keep doing the things that we know we are supposed to do. Those good habits that keep on sneaking away from us like a rainbow. This post has three more ideas for how to stop feeling guilty about not doing these things and to start doing them.

Don't change with the times

Whenever a new fashion or fad comes along we are tempted to drop what we are doing and to run off to Tae Bo, Pilates, Alpha Mind Power or whatever the new thing is. Resist the temptation. Remind yourself that you will fall in and out of love with the new thing as well. Stick with your first love. Reap the benefits of sticking with the same thing for a long time. 'Be there' when you have been meditating or running for 20 years. If nothing else, this will give you bragging rights. Check the running streak guys out for some inspiration.

Establish routines

It only takes 21 days to establish a habit. Imagine if your other good habits could become as ingrained as brushing teeth or eating with a knife and fork. No agonizing, no big efforts and committments. Just doing what needs doing.

And this is entirely possible. Why shouldn't meditating twice a day or drinking 5 glasses of water a day become as 'second-nature' as having a shower in the morning? The only difference that I can see is habit.

So here's a challenge: stick to whatever good behaviour you are trying to establish for 21 consecutive days. And maybe try the other things that help establish habits: Do it at the same time every day, Do it in the same place if you can, Maybe even wear the same clothes - anything that can help you train yourself to turn to this task routinely.

Hang out with likeminded people

The main reason why I have kept on cycling more or less continuously for the last 25 years is that I have good friends and family that ride. Seeing these people and hearing their cycling stories (again and again :-) has inspired me to keep going or to make a bigger effort. There is always somebody ready to go for a ride or talk about riding. All that I have to do is to keep on hanging out with these people.




Look out for part 3 in this series in 10 days or so!