Remember the posts Add A Healthy Habit and Target One Bad Habit? I referenced The Power of Habit, which is a great read. Charles Duhigg, the author, emphasizes the importance of identifying your “keystone habit.” A keystone habit has a ripple effect–for example, when people start exercising regularly, they tend to start eating more healthily and become more productive. The healthy eating and increased productivity are not part of the original goal; instead, these healthy changes are part of a chain reaction that happens when you incorporate an important habit.
This positive chain reaction means you can prioritize one keystone habit and focus only on that habit–chances are, other healthy habits will follow. I see this healthy chain reaction with clients all the time, so I can attest that it works!
Can you identify the keystone habit you need to incorporate into your life?
If you need inspiration, read this article by Charles Duhigg on Lifehacker.
If you want to incorporate a keystone habit, I recommend you get very concrete (and realistic!) about your goal. What exactly do you want to accomplish? How does this habit look today as compared to your goal for one year from now? Write it down, calendar it, and be specific.
Mr. Duhigg’s research suggests that habits are not conscious decisions, but instead are routines. Once we start the routine, we go on autopilot and simply go through the steps of the routine–we don’t even think about it. This means that you need to establish a routine for the habit you want to add–that’s why you need to be specific and concrete. You can evolve the habit over time, but to get started, think repetition, repetition, repetition.
Research also shows that tracking your success helps reinforce healthy habits. You can incorporate this into your Daily Accounting or use a smartphone app such as Streaks.
Need more inspiration? Watch this TEDTalk by Matt Cutts–“Try Something New for 30 Days.”
What’s your keystone habit? Start writing down your keystone habit routine today!
You can subscribe to the Daily Shoring 90 Day Series here:
To the delight of my wife, one keystone habit I’ve adopted is making my bed every morning. It gets the whole day off to a productive start.
Another: Gratitude. When you’re grateful for what you have, your thoughts and actions help you get more of it.
Because I work for myself, I’ve found these 3 keystone habits helped grow my business:
1) Reading my monthly goal out loud for 1 minute every morning
2) Visualizing it for 3 minutes
3) Walking while saying affirmations out loud for 10 minutes
Keystone habits may be small, but the changes they produce are BIG.
I wish you all the best!
Kevin Donlin
3 Habits of Growth
http://www.GrowthUnlimited.org
Thanks for sharing, Kevin! The information on your website re: Keystone Habits is great. The Keystone Habit concept is one of the best jump-starts to self improvement I know of. It’s a way to develop self discipline without getting overwhelmed, and as you point out, can facilitate a positive mood. I hope you’ll keep reading!
Deann, thanks for your kind words! Keystone habits may be the ultimate “hack” to living a better life. I wish I had known about them 40 years ago. Keystone habits are like “gateway drugs” to new behaviors … so why not pick GOOD ones? Happy to contribute to this discussion that you started!
Kevin Donlin
3 Habits of Growth
http://www.GrowthUnlimited.org