Turning the Elements™ into a Habit

Building healthy habits that serve you is easy with the Elements. You might begin with choosing the Element you want to bring into your day which you can do using the Element of the Day, or you can work on building a specific Element and habit over a longer period. Below is a guide to the steps to creating long-lasting and meaningful habits to build the ‘muscles’ you need for success.

Choose the habit you want to commit to.

It starts with YOU. What is the habit you want to develop? The habits that have the greatest opportunity to stick are the ones you want to create. Having the habit be of your choosing is crucial in your ability to put it into practice.

Be specific about what you want to do.

Determining exactly what you will do and when you will do it, give you a stronger chance of seeing it through. Will you write in your journal each night before bedtime or workout each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning? Have a specific vision of what you will do is the first step in bringing it to life.

Tell a friend.

Telling others what you are planning helps you to stay accountable. You might even ask them to check in on you to see how it’s going and offer to do the same for them if they have a habit they’d like to create.

Have a ‘why’.

Creating clarity about how this new habit will benefit you or others, enables a deeper reason for seeing your new habit through. Will it make you healthier, more present, help you to advance in an area that’s exciting to you? These are all good reasons to make it happen.

Make your habit a ritual.

Creating a trigger enables you to cue success. If you want to journal each night before bed, put your journal and a pen on your pillow in the morning when you make your bed (another great ritual!), or set your workout clothes in the bathroom and your running shoes by the door on the night before your workout. All of these triggers can cue your success.

Celebrate your success.

Rewarding your new behavior is a great way to help you continue. Consider how you will reward yourself for your effort along the way. This does not need to be an expensive prize. Even a little internal acknowledgement can keep you going.

Don’t expect perfection.

Building new muscles take time. You may miss a few days, but all is not lost. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Reflect on why you took a break from your habit, revisit your ‘why’, and determine if there is something you can learn to make it easier to get yourself consistent again. When we ‘fail forward’ it helps us to grow and become stronger in the process.

Need additional support?

If you need further support in building healthy habits, please reach out to us at hello@elementsofus.com