Habits and changing our habits are a hot topic, and at certain times of year it can seem everyone and their dog is talking about habits. And I get it: habits are an essential part of our lives, and we all have them. 

However, developing truly supportive habits, those that will support us to flourish, can be challenging, especially when we lack clarity about our intentions or reasons for wanting to create them. 

As a coach, I LOVE habits. And as an author, I embrace habits. Thus, I know all too well that before we consider changing existing habits or developing new ones, we need to consider why we want to embrace certain habits.

Taking time to reflect upon our why is vital, as that supports our motivation. We could also describe the why as our intention. That is our bigger reason. Intention also refers to being deliberate or strategic about what we do. Indeed, connecting with our intent can be the supercharger for habits!

For example, I might hear lots of people saying how much they love meditating and decide to give it a try, too. I set myself a daily goal of meditating for five minutes, but then I find I can’t stick with it, probably because I’ve not considered my WHY or the reason I want to meditate; this was my experience some years ago!

Keeping with this example, I now meditate daily and find it easy to stick with because I am intentional about it. I know WHY this habit matters for me and, therefore, WHY it’s valuable to maintain the habit. 

This is the power of intention - being deliberate in our focus. 

When we are intentional about where we place our focus, with our habits, how we want to feel and how we use our time, we have improved clarity. An intentional focus brings calm and an increased sense of control.  Habits often come down to feeling like we have control over ourselves or our space. 

This desire for control is especially true when we want to make a change, which is effectively what a habit is doing. Habits are small, frequent actions undertaken for a longer-term goal. Habits are small steps, or changes, in the right direction. 

And the good news? Research supports that when we start with one small thing or one small step, regardless of the size of change we want to make, we jumpstart our motivation and obtain a sense of achievement, which in turn supports us in taking the next step towards our goal and the next.

After all, even big changes are just a series of smaller changes made over time.

Each of us has different goals and ambitions, but there are common threads that tie us all together. I’ve grouped these into six types of habits where small, incremental changes add up to significant transformations. 

Six genuinely supportive habit types

1. Health Habits

Let’s start with the good news – you already have many good, healthy habits. For example, brushing your teeth, washing your hands after visiting the bathroom, showering and so on.  These are all habits that probably are now automatic for most of us.

So from that good base, you could consider adding other healthy habits, such as;

Get enough sleep

Most of us don’t get enough sleep. As my children have discovered, when they think they are hungry, they are often actually tired! When we get adequate rest and sleep, our entire body and mind function better. Not only that, but when we are well rested, we have greater resilience and creativity and can more easily shift our perspective, Oh, and we are generally nicer to be around!

2. Productivity Habits

If you want to accomplish more, make progress towards your goals, and, most importantly, consciously make better use of your time, productivity habits can definitely help. Productivity culture can be toxic, but there are a few examples of productivity habits that have long-term benefits.

Set three priorities each day

Only three top priorities. As Greg McKeon shares in Essentialism, up to three are priorities. Any more than that, and they are no longer priorities but a task list. When we are selective and intentionally curate what we focus on, we reduce distractions, which means we are more focused and productive on the tasks or activities we have selected.

By getting into the habit of focusing on three key tasks, you build momentum, stay focused and avoid overwhelm! Of course, if you are super efficient, once you complete those three, you can always tackle three more. 

3. Self-Care Habits 

By self-care, I mean looking after our mental well-being, not necessarily just getting a pedicure (although they are great, too!). Especially as parents, making self-care a habit is vital. When you create space to pause and intentionally spend your time on something you love that lights you up and restores your energy, it is inordinately beneficial.

If you’re looking for inspiration, here are a few self-care habits you could explore. Or, you could try;

Journaling

I am a big fan of journaling and often recommend it to my clients. Writing our thoughts and feelings can be an excellent way to help us process what’s happening in our lives, capture memories, and so much more. Even if you only write a few words or sentences, it makes the difference. And it’s something you can do wherever you are, whenever it suits you. It’s portable self-care. 

4. Growth Habits

Growth habits help transform our lives in a big way. They are all about how to develop and learn and are aligned with keeping our minds active and challenged. For example, being brave and stepping out of our comfort zone.

What do growth habits look like? Here is one you might like to consider incorporating.

Read five pages/1 chapter of a book

Depending on how much time you have, and of course, how much you enjoy reading, challenge yourself to achieve a reading goal every day. It doesn’t matter what you’re reading; a book, an article, or the newspaper, the very act of reading will help you learn and grow.

5. Social Habits 

Social bonds are critical to our health and well-being, and it’s essential to make them a priority. The best and easiest way to do that is to incorporate a habit or two in your life that encourages strengthening the meaningful connections you have with friends and loved ones.

A habit you could try in this area is;

Establish a regular catch-up time with friends

When you build in the habit of catching up with a friend regularly, it’s more fun. I catch up with my friend and neighbour every Saturday morning to walk our dogs together, and it’s one of the best parts of my week! We both look forward to it. And our friendship is strengthened as a result.

6. Creative Habits

Many of us think we are not creative. Or that we can’t be creative until we are inspired. But creativity can lead to inspiration! Giving ourselves time to connect with creative inspiration and going with it supports us to be our best selves.

Here is an idea you could consider;

Practice playfulness 

Establish a weekly practice of play! Schedule time for play and creativity, and make sure you stick to it. This date is just as important as any other appointment in your diary. I have a weekly Friday afternoon creativity time appointment for whatever I want. What I do each week varies depending on my mood and how the week has been, but by setting the time aside, I build an intentional practice of playful creativity. 

There you have it: Six different types of habits that support us to live more fulfilled, purposeful and intentional lives. Of course, being intentional means being selective! As a coach, I’d encourage you to consider one of these habits if you want to start taking small steps to transform your life. Trying to address habits from all six areas would be overwhelming and counter-productive.

First, consider which of these habit types you already have well-established. Then, after reading these ideas, you might consider adding one new habit if it feels right.

Ready to be intentional with your habits?

Working through the suggestions here can be a great place to start, but sometimes, we need a more tailored, custom approach. And that’s where working with a coach (that’s me!) comes in. With one-on-one individual support, coaching can make all the difference when you are either thinking about or experiencing a time of change or wanting to feel clear and confident in your career and life.

A Clarity Kickstart is ideal if you are wanting to learn about and explore your strengths, are weighing up options, trying to make a decision or want accountability to support you move into action - for example, identify and embrace some new habits! After this powerful coaching experience, you’ll have a clear way forward to address the key issue you are currently stuck on – no more second-guessing yourself! You will feel confident in yourself and about your decisions; deeply knowing that ‘you’ve got this’. And you will be inspired to move forward in your life on your own terms, with clarity, confidence and calm.