Habits to make or break in 2018: Part One

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Image credit Huyen Nguyen

I’m believing that 2018 will be my best, most magical year yet. You know why? No one else is going to believe it for me!

But seriously.

I knew that 2018 would be a year of challenge for me. A year of digging in and focusing on my dreams (that book ain’t writing itself). I had just given myself a year ‘off’. 2017 was a year of grief and recovery.  

But this year is different. I feel refreshed and ready to face the world again. But mostly I feel ready to conquer some terrible habits (procrastination, too much alcohol) and cultivate some good ones.

But here’s the key to making 2018 rock. I have to take 100% responsibility for my life.

Taking 100% responsibility for my life is where the magic will happen.

So in January, I chose 12 things I wanted to work on. I’m committing to doing each thing every day for 30 days. Here’s the first 6.

January: Gratitude

I’ve long heard about the power of a gratitude practice and how it can transform your life. But I’d never tried it and I was somewhat skeptical. If I’m honest with you, I’ve grown up being fairly negative, often seeing the glass half empty rather than half full. So this could definitely be a game changer for me.

It’s simple. My daughter gave me a diary for Christmas and I keep it in my drawer next to my bed. Every night I write down three simple things I am grateful for.

And yes, it’s working. I enjoy doing it because it makes me notice small, insignificant things that I would usually forget. My memory gets boosted.

February: No alcohol

We have a thing in NZ and Australia called FebFast. A challenge of going without alcohol for 1 month. I’ve participated for about the last six years (the last three years I’ve also added Dry July and No Alcohol November to the mix). The first few times I did this it was a struggle but it’s been easier and more enjoyable every time!

As far as bad habits go, this one makes a point of rearing it’s ugly head if I don’t make an effort to keep it in check. And having a month or two off is a great reset and always helps break the 5’oclock glass habit.

March: An hour outside

This was inspired by Brooke and Ben from Slow Your Home who are doing a year of slow experiments. I’m joining them in aiming to spend 1 hour outside every day. The Slow Home Podcast has done a great job in researching the benefits of outside time, but in short, nature heals.

I usually easily get my hour in exercising our dog. But it doesn’t need to be exercise. I’ve also hung out with the girls at the local bike park, gardened, and hung washing out. With one week left, the challenge for myself is to take some mindful sitting still time outside.

Taking 100% responsibility for my life is where the magic will happen.

April: The one minute rule

I am a MASSIVE procrastinator. And I hate it. I feel like it holds me back from achieving so much more. So in April I’m instituting Gretchen Rubin’s 1-minute rule. Whatever takes a minute or less to do, I do it. No questions, no pondering, no negotiating with myself. Just do it. So much of the mess I see around my house only takes a minute to sort. Make my bed – 1 minute. Hang my clothes up – 1 minute. Put the dishes away – 1 minute.

May: 500 words a day

May is the month I’m committing to making a habit of my writing. I get the feeling friends and family are already sick of hearing me talk about this book I’m writing (or not writing as the case may be at the moment), and truthfully so am I. I just want it written already!

But to get it written, I need to write. Simple. I’ve floundered back and forth with attempting to implement the 500 words a day guideline in the last six months… it hasn’t stuck. This time I’m making an old-fashioned sticker chart for myself. It’ll hang next to the girl’s ones on the fridge.

June: Laugh every day

It occurred to me recently (as I listened to my 4 year old’s fits of laughter) that I don’t laugh enough. I remember a time when I did though. When I was a teenager, uncontrollable giggling seemed commonplace. Right now, I can’t remember the last time that happened. The feeling of having a great big belly laugh that brings tears to your eyes is like a salve for our souls. And there’s actually a whole lot of scientific evidence pointing to the beneficial effects of laughing. I definitely want more. My life is way too serious (and boring) most of the time.

I’m not sure if laughing can become a habit but I think seeking out things that might make you laugh can be. So in June, I’m committing to seeking something (cue the cat videos) that might make me laugh every day.

So, there they are, in all their glory. My first six habits to make or break.

Anyone wanna join me?