Decide where to start. Picking the right healthy habit to build first is key.
You’ll use the “Behavior Brainstorm” worksheet and the “Golden Behavior Matrix” to quickly identify a starting habit that both feels easy to do AND has a high impact in terms of getting you closer to your goals.
STEP 2: DESIGN
Make it “Sticky.” There are two ways to make a habit “stickier” (more automatic) - make it feel easier and make it feel more desirable.
You’ll use the “Make It Feel Easier” handout, the “Make It Feel More Desirable” handout, and the “50 Ways to Celebrate” handout to learn how to make your healthy habits rock solid and quickly require almost no thought.
STEP 3: OPTIMIZE
Find an “Anchor” for your new habit so it’s something you do without even thinking. You already have hundreds of “anchors” in your regular day.
You’ll identify your existing anchors using the “Find Your Anchors” worksheet which will help you quickly see which ones will most naturally support your new habit.
STEP 4: TROUBLESHOOT
Test & Tweak. You’ll take your new habit out for a test drive in the real world and see if it sticks.
If it’s not sticking, don’t worry! You’ll learn how to use the “Ability Chain” to identify specifically why this habit isn’t feeling sticky enough and exactly how to strengthen it using one or more of the four “dials” (desire, ease, emotion, prompt) to tweak it until it does feel easy and automatic.
STEP 5: GROW
Grow (or Prune). Now that you have one new healthy habit firmly established and totally automatic, you get to decide if you want to GROW (use the same formula to build a beautiful garden of more healthy habits) or PRUNE (use the formula to break some old, unhealthy habits).
You’ll use the “Grow & Prune” handout for help!