What is the best way to change habits?

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The best way to change a habit is to cultivate another habit.

I get up early morning and go for a walk for almost 4- 5 kilometers. It takes around 40 minutes to complete my walk. I do it so naturally that if I decide not to do it for one day, I feel like missing some time for the whole day. My father-in-law is so addicted to this habit that he would walk even when it is raining using an umbrella.

However, it has been my experience that if I discontinue this habit even for a few days, I develop another habit i.e. the habit of getting up late or watching some TV program in the morning or reading or writing something. It becomes so difficult to again cultivate this habit of early rising and walking.

Nature abhors vacuums. When you create a space by leaving one habit, you create another habit that fills the space.

Please see the picture above in which there is a path made in the grass field. When you walk on the same path regularly, the grass under your feet get trampled and become yellow. Slowly it would vanish creating a new walking path. Then other people would also start walking the same path and this would become a permanent path.

This path is like your habit which you tend to follow naturally without even thinking about it.

If you wish to change your habit, start following a new path. It will be a bit difficult for you in the beginning and you would be tempted to go back to the regular and known path. However, if you keep following the new path, soon the new path would be engraved in the grass-land and you would have no difficulty in follow the same path again every day without any effort.

You can change your habits in the same manner.

Changing a habit can be challenging, but it is possible with dedication and effort. Here are some steps to help you change a habit:

Identify the habit: Identify the habit that you want to change and be clear about what you want to achieve.

Understand the habit: Understand why the habit exists and what triggers it. Is it a response to stress or boredom? Understanding the root cause can help you develop strategies to change it.

1. Set a goal: Set a clear and specific goal for changing the habit, and make it achievable.

2. Create a plan: Develop a plan that outlines the steps you need to take to change the habit. This might include breaking the habit down into smaller steps or gradually reducing the behavior.

3. Replace the habit: Identify a positive behavior that you can replace the habit with, such as exercise, meditation, or a new hobby.

4. Track your progress: Keep track of your progress and celebrate your successes along the way.

5. Stay committed: Changing a habit takes time and effort, so stay committed to your goal and don't give up easily.

6. Seek support: Seek support from friends, family, or a professional if you need help staying motivated or overcoming obstacles.

Changing a habit can be challenging, but it is possible with commitment and effort. By following these steps and staying focused on your goal, you can develop new habits that align with your values and support your overall wellbeing.

You must create a new habit which you think is more desirable and start following it from the same day. Soon, you cultivate the new habit and discard the old habit.

Lo! Your old habit has changed forever as the new habit is created.