What is February the month of? The month of love for some or an over-commercialized event for others. At Blue Tiger Eye Wellness we believe February is the month of self-love.
Dear readers,
As the Detox & Dry month of January comes to a close, the question is what is February the month of? The month of love for some or an over-commercialized event for others. At Blue Tiger Eye Wellness we believe February is the month of self-love. Yes self-love.
In our January newsletter, we introduced the notion of basic needs; addressing those basic needs is a pillar of self-love. More than feeling good, self-love is dynamic and “grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth”: It is now time to put your January energy-charged-up spirit to use and start forming positive habits.
Before we look at how to form positive habits however, let’s dig a little deeper and get up-close and personal with What a habit really is.
A habit is defined as ” something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it”. Experts in the field, namely behavioural scientists, such as leading psychologist Wendy Woods, have found that people spend anywhere from 33% to 50% of their days engaging in “habitual behaviors” or habits. More than that habits, these are conscious decisions turned into regular routines, which is why they are so powerful.
The Power behind habits:
1 – We automate them into our lifestyles
2 – We treat them unemotionally, meaning we action them without having to think about them
3 – There are contexts, or certain regular times or places which are conducive to consciously adopting them
Why are habits so hard to form?
Intentions to achieve one’s dream are easily formed; the key component to why so many fail is understanding there is a structural path to successful habit forming. This is the connecting of the dots between the dream and the practical “how to”. Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, shares his views. Below we set out the blueprint of how we build habits and what are the keys to success.
1 – Start Simple – listening to your inner voice
Often people have a dream or a goal; however, achieving it, very few people manage – why? No, it’s not because the force has abandoned you, Luke; it’s the art of breaking the goal down into manageable steps (remember your January edition – we know you do; if not, you can read it here).
Listening to our inner voice is the key to understanding how to start and build long lasting healthy habits that work for you.
For example, if you are an extravert, then teamsports may be the key as they speak to your social butterfly bias. Teamsports or group activities are a good way to increase accountability towards yourself and others. On the other hand, if you are an introvert for whom the simple idea of running clubs and group exercise activities makes you want to run to the hills, choosing a discipline such as yoga/pilates or running, more attuned to your inner voice, might be the better way to getting started.
2 – Make it automatic
Just like looking left and right before crossing a road, making it automatic is the best way for a habit to stick. The unconscious habits we absorb and develop during childhood are easy to apply through the course of one’s life; how to consciously automate new healthy habits is often the difficulty. This is why planning and scheduling an activity, no matter how small, is crucial; this is known as a conscious behavior, or more commonly, setting the auto-piloting mode.
A behavior is high in automaticity and can be performed with little to no conscious thought. Our brains and the higher cognitive functions they enable are then freed up to think about other things or perform other tasks. Automaticity is what allows us to multitask more effectively, get more done, and to best allocate our mental energy throughout the day. It also saves us from something known as “decision fatigue” — a state of mental exhaustion brought on by engaging in too many complex cognitive processes, such as (as the name implies) making decisions.
3 – What is the bigger picture
Success is witnessing change as it happens. Therefore, though keeping it simple doesn’t mean changing everything, it is understanding how the different elements fit into the wider picture. This gives each step relevance and is fundamental to sticking to a wider plan.
4 – Commitment through “cues”
Setting yourself hard targets might make it easier to fail, rather than continue. Setting and committing to smaller milestones is key to knowing you are on track and for getting back on the bandwagon if you go a little wayward.
5 – Get invested
Projects that interest us, or that we are passionate about, do not seem like chores. Find and focus on the positive and keep reminding yourself the investment will pay a dividend in the end.
6 – Consider the changes you need and plan to make them happen
Whether it is reading a book before bed or getting your gym bag ready for the next day, keeping it close to you, like your book next to your bed, makes it hard to forget or ignore; with physical signs, you are more likely to succeed.
The ultimate question is which habit to form?
Just like love, what is close to your heart will prompt you to act. We believe in self-love. Be gentle and patient with yourself. Forming new healthy and long lasting habits is not done over the course of a day. It takes patience, intent and commitment, to yourself first and foremost.
Give yourself time to think deeply and use February to listen to your inner voice, look at your goals for the year ahead and start your meaningful journey.
Your Blue Tiger Eye Wellness Team