Bonus Tip: Use your signature
An even better way to check off the habit is by using your signature. If you put your signature on the checkbox after finishing the habit, you’re telling yourself that you’ve done the work the right way. You’re using the self-serving bias to your advantage.
The self-serving bias means that you want to enhance your self-esteem and self-worth with your actions. The signature is a reflection of yourself.
Think of it this way:
You’re putting your signature on the stuff you agree with. You’re enhancing your self-worth by completely nailing the habit. Because of that, the habit is more likely to stick.
Start Small
If your goal is to go to the gym four times a week, don’t start with that habit.
I know that you might be extremely motivated this very moment, but the key to long-term change in your habits is consistency.
Start with a 5-minute walk, two times a week. When you have low expectations, it dramatically increases your likelihood of forming a habit that will last long.
Why?
Because having time for a 5-minute walk every day is easy while 2 hours of exercise isn’t. You can eat one banana every day but you’ll find a full day of eating healthy harder.
Start with smaller goals as much as possible and it will make you less likely to procrastinate.
Overcompensate
Starting small won’t only make habit formation easier; it can help you compensate on certain days, too.
What you will find, after a certain period of time, is that you’ll be able to easily go for a ten-minute walk, instead of the planned five-minute walk. You’ll be progressing in an easy, playful way and this will increase your motivation. Plus, it will make habit formation feel like something that you ‘want’ to do, instead of ‘needing’ to do.
No need to feel sorry now. What are you waiting for? The year isn’t over yet. Take your New Year’s Resolutions out of your closet and start forming new habits the simple, fun and sustainable way.
Original Source: dumblittleman
In conclusion, take a small steps in the beginning and slowly work it up to bigger step so that you will not find it intimidating to form new habits. After some time, your habits will be form and it become 2nd nature to you such that it stay with you. Instead of just rushing into building something big which you may not be able to keep it up with the habits.