Aristotle once wrote, “virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions”. If you have set a goal for yourself, like getting really good DSE results, the next step is to build it slowly into your daily routine so that it becomes a habit. Good habits are the foundation of success. They make it easy to attain excellence because, once a good habit is formed, it becomes a regular part of your life. Here’s how to get started on developing good habits.
Start small
Habit-building often ends in frustration because most people start too big. Writing down a big goal and failing horribly at it right at the beginning is a sure-fire way to lose motivation quickly. By starting with a small step, you can ensure a small string of successes that will build up your willpower to continue because the taste of success feels good.
For example, in your bid to get better grades, try starting with half an hour of uninterrupted studying before dinner. It may seem ridiculously easy, but that’s the point. Reel off a few days of achievements, and then increase the number from there.
Put the tools you need close to where you will use them
One easy way to dramatically increase your probability of doing something is to physically put the tools you need to complete the task close to where you will use them. It might seem like a no-brainer, but people are naturally very lazy. Even if it’s something as simple as reading a textbook in your bedroom, if you need to go and gather things before you can start your activity, you are making it harder for yourself to develop good habits. So put the textbook on your desk beforehand.
Figure out a visual cue to use as a counter
We all need visual reminders of our progress. Your job is to figure out a simple way for you to keep track of what you’ve done. For example, if your goal is to study seven topics in one week, try this: put two plastic rubber bands on your left wrist at the start of the week. Each time you’ve finished one topic, move one rubber band to your right wrist. Then you can see how you’re doing each day.
It can be anything, like moving a marble from one jar to another or turning a figurine around on your desk to face you. The physical action of tallying a success reinforces the habit you’re trying to build.
Eliminate your “surrender” moments
The last piece of advice for building good habits is to analyse your “surrender” moments and eliminate them. Think back to the last time you gave up and didn’t follow through on a daily quota. Why didn’t you do it? Whatever it was that held you back, brainstorm how you can make that moment easier for you to work through.
For instance, your goal is to revise two science topics every day, but you didn’t do it yesterday. Why not? Maybe because you were playing League of Legends after dinner until bedtime. Solution? Allow yourself a time limit and set an alarm on your phone – when time’s up, log off and pick up a book.
Try these tips to developing good habits, and you’ll be well on your way to reaching your goals.
Edited by Ginny Wong