Small Hinges Swing Big Doors

I recently had a birthday and one of the goals I set for myself for my new year was to be consistent with all the things.  I am 28 days in, and I am definitely making progress. 

I found when I start my day off with a routine, the rest of the day goes well. One of the things I am very big on is getting up and making my bed.  My dad is a retired army colonel and I have visions of him coming and checking the corners to make sure they are tight. Just kidding…. not really  I find when I make my bed if nothing else gets checked off of my daily list, I can say I accomplished something.  

There is a saying small hinges swing big doors. Consistent changes create lasting habits.  I must say I have not always stuck with things to create lasting habit change, but I am giving myself grace as I strive to be more consistent.

There are several ways to be consistent with the things that you want to create as habit, here are just a few:

·      Create a routine or habit

Doing something over and over will allow you to get to the place where it is a habit and you do not even thing about it you just do it. 

·      Schedule time to complete the task.

Make sure you have the time to complete the task.  Give yourself the time to focus on what you are doing.  Do not intermingle other tasks with new ones. Finish one new thing and then go to the next. I find when I start too many things nothing gets finished.

·      Do it even if you do not want to. 

o   There are times you create a goal to do something like exercise for example and there are days you just don’t feel like it. Do it anyway.  The more consistent you are, the easier it will become. Create a binding contract with yourself to make that thing happen.

·      Focus on the process, not the outcome.

 Break your task into small steps.  Pay attention to the way in which you are going to do that task not the outcome of the task. Remember small hinges swing big doors.

The consistent task I am most proud of is this newsletter. I made a commitment/contract with myself several months ago to put out a newsletter every Thursday to show up for you and bring light to menopause and I am happy this habit stuck.

It is said it takes 21 days to create a habit.  Put it on your calendar and create that consistency.