Getting into a habit is difficult. What if we don't know what we are getting into and subconsciously end up doing something else?
Breaking a habit is also harder.
So how do we go ahead with that?
Selfcare usually stems from the belief in being able to do something that makes you happy and habits are hard to stick to, but here's a really cool method, that I came across while sticking to a habit.
Some people prefer punishments when they haven't done a task, and some people prefer to be rewarded when they've done a task.
I believe that the latter helps you develop a habit faster. You know, as I said earlier, humans are just mysterious creatures with a sense of greed.
Use that to accomplish good tasks.
Generation Z has the habit of making "streaks" on Snapchat. Why not make streaks in real life too?
The upside would be, to consistently reward yourself with something every week/ fortnight/ month.
HOW DO YOU BUILD THIS STREAK?
Building streaks are not as hard as they seem to be. Just like using Snapchat to be available once a day, you need to determine what habits you'd like to portray once a day as well.
So let's take an example.
Supposedly, I want to exercise- I would then write down in my notebook, a column for exercise and tick them off each week. One week of missed streaks would mean I would have to start again.
At the end of the week, I can reward myself with something that I want, or a pleasurable moment to savour.
This is how you get into a habit.
Your habits should provide you with the "Three Rs.- Refresh, Rejuvenate and Reset"
Refresh your tasks each morning as you proceed to log in to your day.
Rejuvenate each and every task that you complete on a particular day.
Reset your patterns each weekend after the well-deserved break.
But what habits are good for you?
Unfortunately, this is not something that I can dwell upon, for everyone else. However, here is a list of things that I would consider that I can most certainly have been following for a week.
The week starts a night before you actually begin the next morning. So here are a few things that I do when I wake up for my tasks.
Morning:
I make sure to never skip my skincare. My skin isn't perfect but it is essential to keep it healthy even though it doesn't have to be perfect.
Writing my "morning pages" or my "Daily affirmations,". This is something that I do every day and have been doing so for the last few months. It's beautiful how your mind is on a run constantly. Sometimes you need a brain dump.
Manifesting my day and putting them into action.
Evening, before bed:
I make sure to do my nighttime skincare routine for the same reasons as I do my morning routine.
I have recently downloaded an App called "Journal" where I journal every night before going to bed. It has daily affirmations before going to bed, a gratitude list and a mood tracker. Just like Snapchat, Journal has a column for maintaining "streaks".
I make sure to listen to a podcast. It could be about anything. I listen about mythological creatures or even just plain motivational stuff. Whatever it is, I tend to make sure that I am content and I know about something before heading to bed.
The results are amazing! I have been happier, more content in life, less greedy about things and of course, have been feeling a lot better about home isolation, helping me cope during the pandemic.
Hope this was helpful! Let me know in the comments below as to what posts would you like to see in future!
HAPPY READING!
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