From the desk of Jessica Mize, ACE Coordinator:

Last week I mentioned a few healthy practices students can adopt for initiating steps to a successful second semester. Below is a recap of those:

• Kick the procrastination habit and replace it with better time management skills
• High school is a great time to try something new
• Ditch the self-doubt and negative thoughts
• Show gratitude and take some pre-college responsibility
• Involve yourself in physical activity
• Kick or cut down the social media habit
• Identify healthy outlets for relieving stress

This week I want to share several of my favorite tips for staying committed to healthy habits. There is no shortage of advice for how to stay dedicated to healthy practices, but below are some of my favorites.

• Set and define your goal: Remember the acronym SMART make sure your goal is Specific, Measurable, Action oriented, Realistic, and Time bound
• Pinpoint the habit you want to form: after you work through the SMARTs of your goal, identify a habit(s) that will help you attain or work towards your goal. Reflect on your goal and ask what beneficial habit will help me accomplish my goal? For example, if your goal is to bring up your average in Chemistry, you might decide that you want to establish a habit of reading through your notes each night before bed.
• Think through your motivation: The underlying reason for establishing a new habit that will help you accomplish your goal is your motivation. A great question to ask is: what are the prospective or intended profits of developing this new habit and how will it improve my life? If your goal is to bring up your average in a particular class by reading through your notes each night, consider your motivation for doing this: an increased average will help me improve my qualifications for (fill in the blank) college application or help me qualify for the National Honor Society
• Begin Small: when you first establish a new habit, it is helpful to start small so that you do not become overwhelmed. If your habit is to read through your notes at night, start by committing 5 minutes of your time and then work up from there. Drastic changes can be overwhelming and can be hard to keep up with.
• There are conflicting reports on how long it takes to form a new habit, but all agree that it takes time. Depending on each individual, some are able to form habits quicker than others, but regardless, it takes time for a new habit to become automatic. Be patient with yourself.
• Expect obstacles: Roadblocks, hurdles, difficulties, and challenges are all part of life. Anticipate them and commit yourself to overcoming them. Stumbling is a part of any journey, but it does not mean failure. There is an old proverb that states: “Fall down seven times, get up 8,” and another that says, “Failure is not falling down, but refusing to get up.” For example, if you forget or are unable to read through your notes one night, acknowledge the setback and commit to reading through them in the morning on the way to school (if you are not driving!) or tomorrow night.
• Do not underestimate the power of a well-placed sticky note or electronic reminder: Cues like sticky notes or an electronic reminder/alarm can help remind you to do or reinforce your new habit. For example, a sticky note on your bedside table can help you remember to read through your notes. Or an electronic reminder can help you remember to check your grades.
• Make a change in your environment: Make a change that is advantageous to your new habit. Brainstorm ways in which an altered setting can help encourage or make it easier to reinforce your habit. For example, if you have committed to reading your notes every night before bed, make sure you bring your backpack and book to your room when you get home. Having your materials in your room at bedtime will both help remind you to read as well as cut down on time spent locating your book and notes. Or, if your habit is to make sure you take all of your materials to school each day, pack up your backpack the night before and put it in your car for the next day.
• Talk about it: Accountability is a very powerful ally when trying to reinforce or establish a habit. When you talk about your goals, motivations, etc., it helps others join your journey and remind you of that in which you are trying to accomplish.
• Keep track of your progress: When you keep a tangible measurement of your progress, it can help you both stay motivated and plan ways to keep going. Using an app, keeping a journal, or even using social media to share your progress is a great way to track, stay motivated, hold yourself accountable, and continue working on the habit.
• Reward yourself: Simple things like treating yourself to ice cream or a movie after you bring your grade up a point can continue to inspire your motivation. Make sure that the rewards you choose are both healthy, ones that will not jeopardize your well-being, or compromise your goal.

References:

Casey, J. (n.d.). “How to Form a Good Habit.” wikiHow. Retrieved from: http://www.wikihow.com/Form-a-Good-Habit