Breaking Old Habits and Creating New Routines in the New Year

Are you struggling to break old habits and create new routines in the new year? You're not alone. In fact, a recent study of 2,000 Americans found that 80% of us are stuck in a routine. But it is possible to turn your new year from predictable to unpredictable. According to a study by the American Psychological Association (APA), changing your perspective on change itself can be a habit breaker.

One technique is to adopt "abstract thinking" and set both "micro-quotas" and "macro-goals". The macro-goals represent your long-term objectives, while the micro-quotas set the standard for your daily habits to reach those goals. For example, writer Nathan Berry used this technique by forcing himself to write 100 words a day, which resulted in three published books and thousands of dollars in sales. This demonstrates the theory of self-determination, which states that we are more likely to stick with new routines if we are intrinsically motivated rather than motivated by external rewards.

But it's not always easy to cultivate intrinsic motivation, especially when we're not used to being enthusiastic about tasks like answering all of our emails in a day. Instead, we often focus on external rewards like bonus checks. However, science tells us that if we can find patience and passion in the small successes and progress we make on a daily basis, we can not only form new positive habits but also achieve our goals. This is where decision making and time management come into play.

Writer Seth Godin suggests simplifying the decision-making process by eliminating obstacles and viewing choices as simply that – choices. By removing emotion and focusing on the bigger picture, we can free up time and energy for the things that truly matter and require more effort. In short, changing your perspective, simplifying your choices, and cultivating patience can lead to successful habit formation and goal achievement – it's not just a smart approach for the new year, it's backed by science.