Gaining Momentum

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For the past eight weeks I have been immersed in reading, thinking, and acting upon BJ Fogg's work in helping people to develop new habits. Personally, I am working to develop a daily habit of writing. 

The beauty of this approach is that by making tiny changes you really can influence your behavior. For instance, I aspire to keep a tidy house, yet when I eat a snack in front of the TV I (used to) forget to take my dishes to the kitchen. This approach has helped me to change that.
PROCESS

1. Anchor: Select a behavior you already have to serve as an anchor for the new habit. For instance, standing up from a seated position.
2. Behavior: As the anchor behavior prompts, perform the new tiny behavior. For instance, after standing up, I scan the room for dishes. That's the new habit. I find that once I scan the room and become aware of the dishes then I am motivated to pick them up and take them to the kitchen. 
3. Celebration: Once you perform the tiny behavior, celebrate. As I scan the room and spy a dish that needs to go to the kitchen I smile knowing that I am successfully working toward maintaining a tidy living space. 

Celebration is key because, as BJ has proven, habits are not formed through repetition. Instead, habits are formed by the positive feelings we have when we perform the behavior. Giving yourself a high-five, dancing, or flashing a quick smile all serve to "hack" your brain thus allowing the new habit to form more quickly. Now, when I inadvertently start to leave a room without scanning I stop in the doorway and turn around to perform the task because doing so makes me feel good. 
If you are interested in developing new habits in your life you can learn more at this website: ​https://tinyhabits.com
I have used the five-day free coaching program and can attest to the fact that it works.  
If you have an hour and want to take a deep dive into this process I recommend you watch this podcast conversation between BJ Fogg  and my new favorite inspiration, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: ​https://drchatterjee.com/bj-fogg-the-secret-to-making-new-habits-stick/