Getting Your Habits on Your Side

When it comes to getting things done, a habit is the shortest distance between two points. Habits operate like a tractor beam, propelling us forward without thought or volition. Because they short-circuit the need to stop and decide, habits are a powerful tool for an organized life.

Don’t believe habits are powerful? Just try to break a bad one! Once established, habits sail along forever, getting the job done quickly and without further thought. Most of the time, you’re barely aware of their presence as they lead you through the dance of life.

To get organized fast, you’ll want to build a stable of helpful habits to speed up day-to-day activities. Putting the power of habits to work for you is an essential element of an organized life.

Anatomy of a Habit

What makes a habit so powerful? Recent scientific research has zeroed in on what happens when a habit is in play. Understanding the process can help us create good habits and extinguish the bad ones that hold us back.

A habit begins with a trigger, a cue that signals the start of a chain of behaviors. For example, the thud of the newspaper hitting the front porch can trigger a morning ritual: getting up, drinking coffee, and reading the paper. The sound is the cue that sets the habit in motion.

Next comes the habit’s routine: the set of activities that constitutes the work of the habit. For our newspaper reader, that routine consists of arising from bed, retrieving the paper, adding coffee and water to the coffee pot, and pushing the brew button. He or she doesn’t need to think about finding the coffee filters or counting the number of scoops because habit has taken over. The behaviors proceed automatically, on autopilot, without conscious decision.

Finally, the habit delivers a reward. The first sip of aromatic coffee, enjoyed while scanning the headlines, reinforces the willingness to set the habit in motion. Scientists tell us that a spike in brain activity accompanies this reward, which accounts for the persistence of habit. Once a habit is in place, we’ll do almost anything to get that reward, and each time we repeat the cycle, we strengthen the habit’s place in our life.

ROAD HAZARD

Old habits don’t die—they just bide their time. If you’re replacing a habit, the new habit will need to offer a substitute for the reward you’ve been getting from the old one. It’s not enough to decide that a bad habit has to go; you’ll need to push it aside by adopting a healthier alternative that meets the same need.

Understanding the cycle of trigger, routine, and reward gives us the tools we need to create new and stronger habits as quickly as possible.

To get a new habit off to a good start, focus on the benefit you expect to receive. Many times, the habit itself generates a reward, like that first sip of coffee, but if a reward doesn’t seem obvious, create one.

For example, if you plan to clear the kitchen counters daily, imagine the pleasure you’ll have each evening as you stand back and admire your clean and organized space. If you’ve decided to pay bills weekly, schedule the session so you can conclude it just before a favorite television program. Turning on the set and relaxing on the couch will be your reward. Focus on a payoff to strengthen each new habit you’ll put into play.

Next, consider the trigger, the cue you’ll use to signal the start of the new habit. Some habits are triggered by outside events, such as the arrival of the paper on the porch. Other habits need to begin with a specific opening action to signal your brain, “Hey! Stand back, a habit’s on the way!”

Finally, give some thought to the meat of your habit—the routine. This is the get-it-done phase of the habit, bundling a series of steps and actions into one automatic flow. The routine carried out by a habit can be short and sweet or lengthy and complex. Set your habit in motion by being specific about the steps you want your habit’s routine to include.

To put new habits to work for you quickly, keep these tips in mind:

•  Set a concrete, specific goal.

•  Identify the habit’s trigger.

•  List each step the habit should carry out.

•  Start small and add more steps later.

•  Associate a reward to reinforce the habit.

•  Practice the habit daily.

•  Expect it to take a month to cement the habit.

To establish new habits quickly, take them on one at a time. Because the effort is all in the front end, be sure each new habit is firmly established before you move on to the next one.

SPEEDY SOLUTION

Habits are a lot like trains: one engine can pull many cars. Adding steps to a habit you already have takes less time and effort than cranking up a whole new habit. To get organized fast, expand existing habits by adding new actions to their routines.

Habits for an Organized Life

Ask organized people how they stay on top of things, and they’re apt to give you a puzzled look and say something like, “I don’t know, I just do it!” Even though they rely on a full roster of good habits, the stealthy nature of habit formation can cause them to draw a blank when asked about the specifics of their orderly lives.

Watch organized people in action, and you’ll see their story: good habits are evidenced everywhere. Leaving a room, they straighten the newspapers and gather scattered belongings on their way out the door. When cooking, they wipe up spills and tidy counters on the fly. Before bed, they lay out clothing to wear the next day, work materials, and makings for lunch. Without thinking about it, their habits kick in to keep disorganization at bay on an hourly basis.

Do you want to join their ranks? Then work to incorporate these habits into your everyday life:

•  Make a place for everything, and put everything in its place.

•  Clean up as you go along.

•  Sort the mail over the trashcan.

•  Tidy each room as you leave it.

•  When you use something, put it back.

•  Toss trash immediately.

•  Clean up after each task before you begin a new one.

•  Each night, make a plan for the following day.