Use a Paper Calendar to Build Habits

92% of people are not successful in achieving their New Year’s resolutions. That is because most people depend on will power which is a limited resource rather than building new habits.   Once something becomes a habit, you don’t have to drain your will power remembering and making yourself do it. Pick something you want to change in order to be happier, like being on a diet, getting more organized, spending less money, or just finding ways to enjoy life. Schedule 15 minutes every day, preferably in the morning when your will power is full, and spend that time working on your new habit. Plan your meals, make a list of two things you want to accomplish that day, work on your budget, or write down something fun you will make happen that day.   Print out a paper calendar with 30 days on it. Every morning when you complete your new habit forming task, put an X on the calendar.   Keep the calendar in a prominent place where you can see it. Try to put an X on each day and not miss a day. If you miss a day, don’t get discouraged, just start over. Keep working on your habit until you have 30 X’s in a row. By that time, it should be habit, something you almost automatically do every day.   Now you can start working on your next habit. It is important not to get discouraged if you go through 2 or 3 calendars before you get 30 in a row. Just keep trying. Once you get the first habit, the others will come easier.

Happiness Hack #4 – Practice Autonomy

Happiness Hack #5 Make Time To Exercise

Happiness Hack #6: Find Flow

Happiness Hack #7 Keep a Happiness Jar

Happiness Hack #8 Finding Meaning

Happiness Hack #9 Start Small

About Ray White

My Passion is helping people become successful and happy. I have found that many people want to be successful but just don’t know how. More importantly, people want to be successful because they feel that reaching some success pinnacle will result in them becoming happy. The research and my experience has shown that just the opposite is the case. Success does not lead to happiness. Happiness leads to success.