Week 21: Building Habits that Last
Design your own 'Habit Haven' as an entrepreneur
Welcome to another edition of Inspirele’s bi-weekly newsletter, where we dive into the strategies that help you build a thriving business and life. Today, we're focusing on habit building—a cornerstone for personal and professional success. As entrepreneurs, mastering our habits can be the game-changer we need to break barriers and reach new heights. Let’s explore some powerful habits to adopt and the steps to make them stick.
Habits Worth Adopting - the entrepreneur edition
Morning Routine: Start Your Day with Purpose - Engage in activities that boost your energy and set a positive tone for the day. A good example of a morning routine is one that has a combination of exercise to get your blood flowing, relaxation to clear your mind / reduce stress, and planning to outline your top 3 priorities for the day to start with clarity and focus.
Continuous Learning: Allocate at least 30 minutes daily to expanding your knowledge. Subscribe to industry-specific newsletters or podcasts that you can listen to during commutes. Enrol in online courses on platforms like Coursera or Udemy to learn new skills relevant to your business. If you enjoy reading, make it a habit to read one business book per month - you’ll be surprised by how much you learn from these.
Networking: Schedule at least one networking event or meeting per week. This could be a local business meetup, a virtual industry conference, or a casual coffee chat with a potential collaborator. Make it a point to reach out to a new contact on LinkedIn each week, offering a meaningful introduction or sharing relevant insights to foster genuine connections.
Strategies to Develop and Maintain Habits
1. Start Small and Be Specific
Tip: Choose one habit to focus on at a time and break it down into small, manageable steps. For instance, if you want to read more, start with just 10 pages a day.
Example: “I will read 10 pages of a business book every night before bed.”
2. Use Habit Stacking
Tip: Pair a new habit with an existing one to create a trigger. This is called habit stacking, a concept popularized by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits.
Example: “After I have my morning coffee, I will spend 10 minutes journaling.”
3. Track Your Progress
Tip: Use a habit tracker or journal to monitor your progress. Seeing your success on paper can be incredibly motivating.
Example: Create a calendar specifically for your new habit and check off each day you complete it.
4. Find Accountability Partners
Tip: Share your goals with a friend or join a mastermind group. Accountability partners can provide encouragement and keep you on track.
Example: Join a local or online entrepreneur group where you can share your progress and challenges.
5. Be Kind to Yourself
Tip: Habits take time to form. Be patient and forgiving with yourself if you slip up. The key is to get back on track without guilt.
Example: If you miss a day, acknowledge it without self-criticism and commit to resuming the next day.
"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." - Jim Ryun
Your prompt for the week
Reflect on one habit you want to build. Write it down, along with the first small step you can take today. Share it with your accountability partner or group and commit to starting now. Here’s a simple yet effective template to get you going:
Habit: ______________
First Step: ______________
Accountability Partner/Group: ______________
Let’s embark on this journey together, one powerful habit at a time. Your future self will thank you.
Until next time, stay inspired and keep building the life you dream of.
Till we meet next time,
Nareen