Adapting Habits to Fit Your Life: Tips From My Own Experience

I’m not an expert in habits, but I’d love to share a bit about my own experience and offer some tips based on that.

Adapting good, healthy habits can seem challenging. I don’t have a set schedule—like an office job—that allows me to follow the same routine every day at the same time. However, I’ve found ways to prioritize what makes me feel good, even if it doesn’t happen at the exact same time daily.

Over time, my habits and routines have evolved, and that’s okay. In fact, it’s necessary and healthy. Your habits should fit your current life and needs. As you move through different phases of life, your goals and needs will shift, and your habits should reflect that. It’s important to regularly evaluate where you are and what you need at the moment.

Here are some questions I regularly ask myself to help determine what I need in my life right now:

• How is my energy lately?

• How does my body feel?

• How do I feel mentally and emotionally?

• Am I getting good sleep, and do I feel rested?

• Is there something I wish I could do more of?

• What can I do to improve my everyday routine?

• What do I want to achieve that’s within my control?

For me, this reflection is the first step in recognizing which habits I should build and prioritize based on what I need physically, mentally, and emotionally today.

Once you understand your needs and goals, it’s time to start creating those habits. But how?

Here are some tips that have worked for me:

1. Start small and doable. Whatever the habit is, begin with something achievable. You can always build from there. For example, if your goal is to practice yoga every morning, jumping straight into an hour-long session every day might be too much. You could do it for a month or two and then burn out. Instead, try starting with a more manageable goal—like practicing 3 days a week or 15 minutes everyday—and gradually build from there.

2. Use reminders. For example, if you want to read every night before bed, leave your book somewhere visible, like on your nightstand or even on your bed. Tie the new habit to something you already do—like getting into bed at night.

3. Reward yourself. If you find certain habits challenging—like getting up to exercise—try rewarding yourself afterward. Your brain will start to associate working out with the reward. For instance, you might treat yourself to a delicious breakfast (like a smoothie or your favorite healthy meal) after exercising.

4. Plan ahead. If your schedule changes frequently, like mine does, you might wonder how to build habits without a consistent routine. What’s worked for me is planning each week based on my work schedule and priorities. While I love exercising or doing yoga first thing in the morning, I also have backup options for days when that’s not possible. Planning your week ahead of time is a great way to stay on track with your habits.

   
   

You can always find ways to make habits work for you. While there will always be excuses, there’s usually a solution for each one. I hope these tips help if you’re finding it hard to build habits in your life.