My previous blog gave tips on getting started with your decluttering goals.
This week I’m focusing on the next step; how to make and keep good habits.
It's a joy to be in your tidy home after decluttering and re-organising.
However, our belongings don’t suddenly start putting themselves away!
Unless we put systems in place, we continue to follow the same patterns and create the same mess.
To maintain the home we desire, we need to start by creating positive habits.
How habits are created
Many things we do in a day, are out of habit. Once we are aware of this, we have a choice.
We can throw down our clothes because it’s a habit, or hang up our clothes because it’s a habit.
New habits are made by consciously repeating an action. After approx. 2 months, these actions become automatic.
It takes effort to begin with, but with constant repetition, hassle becomes habit.
Start with one thing
Start by identifying one area of your home life you would like to improve. For example, it may be maintaining a tidy hall.
Make a list of the actions necessary to achieve that goal. Then list the conditions that will make the actions possible.
Actions:
1. Put my keys in the basket.
2. Hang my coat on the hook.
3. Place my shoes on the rack.
Conditions:
1. A basket to put my keys in.
2. A tidy coat rack, making it easy to hang up my coat.
3. A rack to keep shoes together and tidy.
Once you've created the conditions, the actions will follow more easily.
Come through door, put keys in basket, hang up coat, put shoes on rack. Repeat!
Schedule it
Scheduling a task means you’re more likely to do it. Planning in advance, takes away the pressure of making decisions in the moment. If it’s in the diary, we stick to the plan.
1. Make a weekly schedule for your household tasks. List the tasks and find times which suit the task and your energy levels.
2. Group similar tasks together. Our brain is more productive when dealing with one thought process at a time.
3. Reward yourself by linking boring habits to enjoyable ones. For example, cleaning the house followed by going for a coffee.
I hope these solutions will provide you with a starting point.
Creating new habits is challenging, so keep in mind your reasons for persevering.
Cultivating our everyday habits, leads to positour lives.
If you can't face doing this alone, get in touch and we can do it together!
Online sessions are available.
10% discount gift (December-January) quote REVITALISE when booking.
Start the New Year with focus and clarity.
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