Developing the Habit

I’m writing another blog post today, because I’m in the mood to write blog posts. This is my third post. I’ll write it, and save it as a draft for later, or schedule it for a specific day in the future.

I’m in the mood to write blog posts because I have developed the habit of writing them.

I know it sounds like a redundant cliche, but I’m going to say it anyway: the more you do it, the more you’ll want to.

As lame as this bumper sticker phrase for writers comes across as, it’s completely true. It applies to writing, to crafting, to exercising, to eating properly, and so much more.

Think about when you were little and you had to be told to brush your teeth. It was a complete chore, and something you had to be forced to do. Now, as an adult, you feel icky if you go without brushing your teeth. You developed a GOOD habit.

At first, blogging may feel like a chore. Awww man, it’s been two weeks since my last post, I better force myself to come up with something to write. Often times the fact that you are FORCING yourself to write will come out in your tone, but don’t worry, that will go away. If you force yourself to go at it, to write a post every day, you will eventually be coming up with more ideas for posts than you will be able to deal with, and the urge to write those posts will develop.

(Like me, currently nursing the urge to write a post on developing good habits. ;-))

Same goes with other “chores” you have to cope with every day. If you force yourself to drink plenty of water like you’re supposed to, then you will eventually feel a giant thirst for the H2O the moment you have to go without it. If you force yourself to exercise every day, you’ll eventually feel antsy if you have to go without it.

It’s getting past that first initial hump, when the needed activity is a chore, that is the hardest. The best way to get past it is to designate a time, EVERY DAY, in which you assign yourself to the dreaded task. No skipping, because in the beginning this will set you back at square one. Depending on the task, you will eventually find yourself developing a habit, and you won’t even notice when you start to crave this activity, or in the very least, miss it when you are unable to attend to it.

The benefits of building good habits will accompany them. Such as having minty fresh breath.

Tagged: blog, blogging, exercising, goals, habit, motivation, work, writing