We’re big proponents of routines and habits here at Day Designer. And that’s because we’re big fans of our time!
Think about this: By creating routines and making our very best actions and behaviors habitual, we save precious time that might have otherwise been spent overthinking or procrastinating. In doing that, we also save ourselves from having to complete tasks at inopportune times—or in many cases, avoid neglecting a beneficial action altogether.
We want to help you balance your schedule with meaningful interactions, fun activities, and some plain ol’ downtime too—which is why we focus on building positive habits and breaking the bad ones!
Here are just a few reasons why good habits are so important and integral to our lives:
1. Habits Allow Us To Concentrate
When something becomes a habit, you don’t have to think about it anymore. It’s automatic. For example, when you were two years old, brushing your teeth might have taken some conscious consideration (and quite a bit of encouragement from your parents!), but now you don’t have to think twice to start doing it at routine times every day.
When a task becomes a positive habit in your life that you can do quickly and easily and without expending a lot of time and attention, you are able to focus on other activities. Habits allow us to operate at higher levels—with less mental clutter and more clarity.
2. Habits Make Us More Efficient
Research says it takes 21 days to build a regular habit. But once you do, that action or behavior is set. You don’t have to think about the first step and the second one and the next step after that. Instead, you just do it. Over time, the activities and behaviors that are most important to you occur faster and without using up valuable mental energy.
That sort of efficiency is critical for anyone. Good habits free up time to let you focus on what really matters, whether that’s time with your kids, concentrated time on your work presentation, or reading a new book.
3. Habits Make Us Healthier
Positive habits can improve your health in every respect: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Of course, it helps to intentionally choose to build habits that support your well-being, such as exercising more, eating healthier, or meditating every day.
But no matter the habit, one good habit supports other good habits (or puts a stop to bad ones). Research shows that when you successfully implement one positive habit, you are motivated to make other positive changes in your life. For example, if you start working out every day, you’re less likely to do something that is detrimental to your body. Positive behavior reinforces further positive behavior—so why not make your most positive behaviors a habit?
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And that’s the key—in order to get these benefits, your habits must be positive. Negative habits are (unfortunately) just as powerful as positive habits. If you want to make a positive change in your life, focus on reducing your negative habits and building positive ones.
Throughout this month, we’ll share the top habits and routines to consider building into your morning, daytime, and evening right here on the blog. Stay tuned!
What positive habit would you like to add to your life? Share your top pick in the comments below!