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We all have times in our lives when we intentionally want to change our behavior for the better and start new habits for ourselves. There are so many areas in our lives that could be improved and made easier if we created new habits.

Building new habits isn’t easy. It’s often easier said than done. We seem to acquire bad habits without any effort but getting into a “good” habit can be a little more challenging.

Once you know what you want to change, have the desire to change it, and believe that you can change it, you can begin to create a plan for change.

Here are six simple hacks that will make it a little easier to start new habits. Use them until you’ve internalized the new habit and don’t need them anymore.

Schedule New Habits

Sometimes we forget to do that new thing we were trying. Maybe we forget that we’re supposed to be having eggs for breakfast instead of a stack of waffles, or that we were going to start walking daily.

Schedule your new habits or make them part of your daily to-do list until they become something you do automatically.

Set up a reminder on your phone to pop up a notification to remind you. New habits grow stronger when they are repeated regularly.

Master your tasks wisely by using reliable to-do lists. Having everything written down will help you plan better, make better decisions, and relieve the stress of trying to remember everything.

Making these lists will force you to think about how you’re spending your precious time, gives you space to reflect, then act with confidence. Try this cute to-do list pad by MomAgenda .

Be Accountable With New Habits

Accountability means that you face consequences for what you do or don’t do. When you’re accountable, you show more discipline.

With an accountability partner, you can motivate each other and help bolster willpower when it starts to fade after the enthusiasm wears off.

Let family and friends know what new habits you’re trying to establish. Ask them to call you out if you don’t stick to your plan to help get you back on track.

You may share it publicly on Facebook or write a blog about your new journey. Knowing that others read it and know about it might be just enough to keep you going when you feel like throwing in the towel.

Accountability partners can be SO helpful!

Certainly, journal about your new habit journey. It will help you spot any curveballs that life is throwing you so you can course-correct more quickly.

Make New Habits A Group Challenge

If one accountability partner is good, a whole group is even better!

You may be able to find a Facebook group specific to your new habit that can help keep you accountable.

Find a supportive group somewhere and challenge each other to stick to your new habit for the next 30 days.

Keep tabs on each other and encourage each other to keep going. Not wanting to be the first one to give up will keep all of you going until you establish that new habit.

Piggyback A New Habit With An Existing One

Whenever possible, add the new habit to one you already have. For example, if you fix a cup of tea or coffee at 4 pm, and you want to get in the habit of taking a daily walk, make the new ritual to go for your walk and then come back and enjoy your beverage. 

That’s what James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, suggests when trying to build new habits. He says, “It’s much easier to amend an existing habit or ritual than create an entirely new one.”

Gretchen Rubin, author of Better Than Before, calls it the strategy of pairing. Combining two activities helps to accomplish a new habit.

One example is walking to the coffee shop. You get your walk in for the day and you enjoy a delicious coffee drink.

Also, substitutions may make new habits easier. For instance, when I quit smoking (decades ago), I popped a piece of gum into my mouth when I had a craving rather than lighting up.

Whenever possible, replace an old habit with a new one. For example, if you’re wanting to give up coffee, brew a cup of herbal tea instead.

Make New Habit Slipups Costly $$

Some do better with building new habits when they’re paying for it such as in a coach, program, or financial consequence or reward.

Here’s one idea to try… Put a jar on the kitchen counter and each time you slip back into your bad habit or forget to stick to the new one, you must put five dollars in the jar.

It will quickly help you remember to skip that sugary food and motivate you to go out for that walk.

For extra motivation donate the money to charity at the end of the month or hand it over to your spouse (or me) 😉 to spend on him or herself.

Make A New Habit Convenient or Inconvenient

Your environment can make a big difference in the success of a new habit.

You’re more likely to do something if it’s convenient and more likely to not do something if inconvenient.

For instance, I know if I have ice cream in the house, I will eat it!

So, if you relate to that, making your bad habits inconvenient will probably work for you too. To eat healthier foods, make sure you have them available and convenient to your reach.

Also, new habits will form faster if you stick to the same time and place each day. Lay out your running clothes and sneakers the night before for your walk every morning at 6 a.m. or right before breakfast.

What to do next

Do what you can to help your willpower along until you have made the new behavior a true habit. After that, it’ll be easy and automatic and you’ve built a lifelong new habit.  

Give these simple little hacks a try and keep using the ones that work until you no longer need the help of any tools or support.

If you’d like to improve your morning habits and routine, join my Make Over Your Morning Email Challenge by completing the form below.

Since I’ve worked on my own morning routine, I feel more refreshed, renewed, and better able to face the day. My days have been running more smoothly and I’m excited to start my workday with enthusiasm.

If you’ve been in a slump lately, I’ve been there. The changes I’ve made to my morning routine have helped me rejuvenate and tackle life and responsibilities with intention.

I hope you’ll join and find a way to get out of that slump and into a life you love! Invite a friend to be an accountability partner. 😉