| March 15th, 2007 |
| Focus on Habits |
Happy March!
Are you aware that the word noetic means "pertaining to the mind?"
Habits are all about the mind, and developing new habits will help free up your brain
energy for more creativity and fun!
This months newsletter is chock full of ideas on creating habits to make your life
easier, more interesting and much less mundane. Oh, how noetic of me!
Enjoy yourself as you browse around this newsletter. As always, I have enjoyed writing
this for you.
Ann
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In this issue:
• Focus on Habits
• Habits Made Easy
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Focus on Habits
Do you always run out of time to nurture your creative side?
Research shows that by creating more habits and automated responses, we free up the
thinking parts of our brain for more creative purposes.
A Simple Cup of Coffee
Think about all the actions it takes to make and drink a simple cup of coffee.
If I had to think about each step as I made the coffee, then think about picking
up my cup and swallowing each time I brought the cup to my mouth, my brain would
be exhausted before I left for work in the morning.
My Newest Habit Update
A while back I wrote that I was going to eat breakfast every morning. It
is not quite a habit yet, but I am closer than I was before. I still need
to remind myself to eat, but once I remember, I know exactly what offerings are available
for me. I no longer need to stare at the cupboards and peer into the refrigerator
wondering what it is I could eat. I am not expending as much energy on
thinking about breakfast and saving more power in my brain to concentrate on less
boring matters.
What About You?
I hope you find the time and energy to read this newsletter. Perhaps you
will find a new habit that you wish to add to your life. Hopefully, it
will make you life much easier and give your brain additional energy and time to
do something more inspiring.
Happy habits!
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Habits Made Easy
Okay, I hear you. You are ready to instill one new habit into your day.
Congratulations! Which one will you pick first? Doing a bit more
exercise? Eating better? Perhaps you would like your savings
account to grow. Maybe you would like to develop an attitude of gratitude.
Whatever you choose, you most likely will need to get rid of a few obstacles that
stand in the way.
Obstacles or Excuses
I want to walk for at least 30 minutes each day. This is so easy for me
in the spring, summer and fall, but much more difficult in the winter.
It is cold outside. There is too much snow. It takes so long
to get dressed. These are excuses, but they are also obstacles.
I really don't want to walk when it is below zero or when I could fall down because
of ice or snow. So the weather is an obstacle, but it should not be an
excuse.
There are many malls where I live and I could easily mall walk on some days.
I work in a building where there are great halls to walk. I can walk outside
for short periods of time most days, but probably not for 30 minutes when it is very
cold. So I could walk 10 minutes, three times a day.
Remove Those Obstacles
I could keep a pair of tennis shoes at work and another pair in my car.
I shop often enough, and if I started my shopping trip by walking around for thirty
minutes before shopping, not only would I get my time in, but I would probably end
up spending less money. If I started my morning with a ten minute
walk, did another ten minutes at lunch and a final ten before dinner, I would get
my 30 in every day.
It takes planning to remove the obstacles, so plan ahead. Think about your
habit right now and what stands in your way of successfully forming this habit.
Remove those barriers right now!
A Little Extra Help
Q. You don't want to add more debt to your charge card.
A. Give it to a friend and tell her not to give it back until your balance is at zero.
Q. You want to eat healthier.
A. Make a menu the day before you go grocery shopping and purchase only what is on your
list.
Q. You want to exercise an hour everyday.
A. Start smaller. Exercise 10 minutes everyday until the habit is well formed.
Then add 5 minutes. Then 5 more until you are exercising an hour a day.
Q. You want to get up earlier in the morning, but you keep slapping the snooze alarm.
A. Move the alarm across the room, and you will need to get out of bed to turn it off.
If you find yourself ignoring it, make it good and loud so it can't be disregarded.
Now It's Your Turn
You can do this. Pick one habit today that would make your life easier. Pick
an easy one, one that you are very motivated to incorporate into your life.
Remove the obstacles, plan ahead and get to work.
Happy habituating!
Ann
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