The HAPPY program consists of 5 elements (Habits, Attitude, Purpose, People, You) that together, can ensure happiness throughout the rest of your life. When you picture the letters HAPPY as a pyramid, ‘You’ forms the base, and ‘Habits’ form the apex, or the highest point.
Habits can be good, bad or harmless, and are formed either intentionally or subconsciously. Often habits are formed in order to reach goals (for example: eating right to maintain health, lose weight, finish school), or to change a negative behavior. Sometimes habits are formed out of necessity, like a pre-planned response to the hostility of someone. One thing is for sure: Habits have the power to save us, or destroy us.
While we may realize how powerful and transformative habits can be, we may not acknowledge that they are also fragile. Why? Because after so many repetitions, habits are ingrained into our subconscious minds and go into a sort of autopilot or default mode, where they bypass our conscious mind and perform without our permission. This autopilot capability can work for or against us. Fact is, our brains can and will cling to habits whether or not they make common sense or cease to benefit us. The good news is that when you get habits right, you can do anything and everything you set out to do. Getting the right habits has many benefits.
- Self confidence and growth. Maintenance of habits strengthens self-discipline and provides a sense of control and accomplishment.
- Goal achievement and discipline. Breaking large, long-term goals into small, daily habits makes them more attainable.
- Improved health and well being. Consistent habits like exercise, healthy eating, and sleep reduce the risk of disease and enhance mental health.
- Increased productivity and efficiency. The autopiloting of routine actions reduces cognitive load, leaving the brain to focus energy on more complex tasks.
- Consistency. Habits provide a foundation for long term consistency, which is more important than short-term effort in personal development.
All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. – James Clear, Atomic Habits
As a retiree your daily routine, needs, and priorities have likely undergone dramatic change. Take a moment to identify whether your habits are in line with your purpose and intentions at the present time. Where you find the need to make a change, there are specific steps that can help you develop a new habit.
● Start small. Micro, baby steps are the best way to make a big change. Being consistent matters more than taking big steps.
● Use visual cues. If you want to get into a healthy eating habit, place a fruit bowl on the counter. Make it obvious that you want to create the habit.
● Habit stack. Anchor your new habit to a current, automatic behavior.
● Reward yourself. Immediately after performing the habit, give yourself a reward to increase the likelihood that you will do it again and again.
In closing, remember . . .
● To change a bad habit, you must replace it with another (good) habit. Years ago to stop my cigarette habit, I drank a glass of water whenever the tobacco craving kicked in.
● It takes conscious and sustained effort to change a habit. Your effort isn’t a one-off, but repetition will result in change eventually and deliver happiness.
Small Habits. Big Happiness!
Happily yours,
Arnette Travis
