Habits Challenge: Week Three

The Habits Challenge continues! Week One had simple, easy tips to create structure and calm, or work around obstacles, and Week Two was about building on existing positive patterns. Week Three is ‘Add Something (Completely) New.’

This is the week for making a bigger positive change, perhaps something to do with health, hobbies, leisure activities, or learning.

Making a big new habit change

As we’ve already seen, different people form personal habits in very different ways. What works well for one person may be completely unhelpful to another person. You often have no absolutely idea what’s going to work for you until you actually try it.

We’ve already tried making tiny daily changes, and harnessing existing habits. Now let’s try making a bigger change that’s out of your everyday comfort zone.

Why do this? Some people only respond to big changes, so it’s time to challenge yourself more. It also needs to be different from things that you already do in your everyday life.

Where to start for Week Three

Choose something you’d like to do regularly, at least once per week. Have a good think about something that would enhance your life in some way.

We’re looking to create either a sense of fun or a sense of progress here. A few quick ideas might include:

• Try a dance lesson with your favourite kind of music
• Join a new exercise class
• Learn how to use some new software
• Sign up for an online writing challenge
• Start learning a new language
• Gather interesting recipes and start trying a new cuisine
• Try a new art or craft technique
• Learn how to do DIY or a new type of decorating
• Make a regular note of your financial outgoings

That’s just to get you started, and I’m sure you can think of plenty of ideas of your own. Just remember to make it something new to you, and either a positive / constructive change or something that’s just for fun.

What’s in the budget? Any constraints?

Once you have a list of a few things you might like to try, consider your current budget. Fit the budget to your current situation and needs.

If you have a budget of zero, that’s okay too. Make your list of ideas first without limiting yourself, then have a good think afterwards about whether any of these ideas have free options.

For example, there are free apps and other resources for learning a new language. You may be able to borrow books, audio recordings or magazines from the library for free, or at very low cost.

Remember, this is something new that you’re trying out to see whether you like it or not. You don’t necessarily need to commit to a full-time course, a term of evening classes, or buying any expensive equipment.

Making it happen: Week Three

Pick something from your list of ideas that you can do at least once this week. Block out some time, and book or schedule it in.

Be sure to add it to your calendar or diary. You might like to set an alert for the event, or to allow for travel time.

Do you need to do anything extra to make sure that it happens? For example, you might need to arrange childcare, leave work on time, take something out of the library, or look up train timetables.

Enjoy trying out the new activity that you’ve chosen.

Pause & reflect afterwards

Afterwards, take a moment to consider the experience. Was it something that you’d like to continue with regularly, and turn into a new habit?

If so, schedule it in for the next month or so. If, on balance, it wasn’t as good as you hoped, it’s up to you whether you’d like to modify the experience. Alternatively, feel free to let it go completely.

Some people respond strongly to things that are already familiar to them, but you might very well surprise yourself when you try something that has more of a sense of novelty to it.

Enjoying this article? You may also like:

• Habits Challenge: Schedule
• Habits Challenge: Week 1
• Habits Challenge: Week 2
• Habits Challenge: Week 4

What will you try this week? How will you make that break from your everyday habits and behaviours?

Next week we’ll be trying out a new set of patterns, and working on breaking a negative habit or two.