Written by Guest Blogger & Certified RRi Coach Jeanne Olson

We’ve all seen it and done it. In life we often say, “I’m going to quit smoking; I’m going to lose weight; I’m going to stop drinking.”   In business we might say, “I’m going to get up early; I’m going to prospect every day; I’m going to track my numbers.” Our intentions are great, and we always start off on a good foot but our good habits quickly burn out and we’re back to our old habits. Here are a few ideas that may help you keep your habits in place:

1. Make room for the new habit
We all have the same amount of time each day, so if we are implementing a new habit then we must also adjust our schedule. Take a good look at your ideal week and ask these questions: What are you doing? Where are you not being productive? What can you take out so that you can add a good, productive habit? Old habits might need to be removed, you might have to give up an hour of TV and replace it with going to the gym.

2. Focus on the end result
Expecting results after a few days is unrealistic, that’s why a lot of people resort back to old habits. It’s important to look forward and focus on the end result and what’s going to happen once you keep these good habits in place. Move forward and keep the end result in plain sight as this will help enforce these good habits into practice.

3. Set up triggers or reminders
Utilize your resources, set up reminders on your phone or create a “trigger” for when it’s time to take action. The reminders on your phone can be customized so that the ringtone itself acts as a gentle reminder of what you need to be focusing on. Triggers can be set up in several ways, such as something you see everyday to remind you of what needs to be done.
An example of mine is staying in touch with my 4 grown children; I have placed a photo of each one of them on a dresser in the guest room so when walking through the doorway of the guest room, that is my first trigger. I am immediately reminded that I need to call one of the kids. I connect with whoever is furthest to the left of the row and then rotate the photos so that I give them all equal time.

4. Break down your habits into smaller ones
We always have great intentions with our habits; but sometimes we may be trying to bite off more than we can chew. If you can’t seem to prospect for an hour each day, start with 30 minutes or if you can’t do 30 minutes, start with just one call! After a week, build it up to two calls, then three,  and then five. The habit will slowly grow into one hour without you even noticing!   All habits can start in a small way and turn into your final goal, at least you’re moving in a positive direction every day.

5. Reflect & Critique
This habit is a must in itself. You need to schedule time each week to reflect and critique your new habits. While reflecting, ask yourself: How are you doing? Where can you modify them? Did you get any results? What can you do better the next week? Remember, whatever gets measured, will always improve. Measure, modify, and continue to move forward!

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a good habit. It takes time, commitment, focus, and reflection to turn those habits into a new way of life. Take a look at your life plan today. What are three bad habits that you would like to remove from your life? What are three good habits that you would like to make a part of your life? Write them down, create your plan, set your triggers, and focus on how much better life will be if you keep your commitment to these new changes!  Always, always, always look forward. There is a reason that the rear view mirror is much smaller than the windshield. You can’t change what’s behind you, but you can create a whole new life if you look out the windshield and move forward!

Go Team Go!

Jeanne