"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle

Habits—which feel like part of our DNA—are routines people get stuck in, subconsciously embedding themselves into our daily lives.

And the bad ones? Those tend to go unnoticed.

Although they may feel insignificant in isolation, habits shape our lives, character, and future.

I have had the privilege of conducting a "stock take" of my personal life in preparation for my 2025 New Year's resolutions.

(Mid-year madness—am I right?)

This stock take requires me to:

1) Remind myself of the goals I set at the beginning of the year

2) Evaluate how close I am to obtaining these goals

3) Whether or not I should consider bringing in any new "ideas" to help me achieve my goals before the 2025 new year.

Here are some of my hot takes/realisations from my stock take:

• As humans, we like a quick fix—a grand gesture that gets us to our ultimate goal in one fell swoop.
• For example, the goal may be to lose weight, read a new book every month, or even start a business.
• Slow and steady wins the race—start with short-term, achievable goals.
• People tend to become fixated on the goal and not the journey—they don't realise that the habits developed during their journey determine whether the end goal will be achieved.

I have some ideas on how to lay down the law with these habits:

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Start with tiny habits

Developed by Dr. BJ Fogg at Stanford University, the "tiny habits" method focuses on small, manageable actions that are easy to incorporate into your routine.

Example: If you want to smash your fitness goals for the year, start with just 5 minutes a day. Gradually, you can increase the time and reps as the habit develops.

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Go in with a game plan.

Make a plan. Research shows that creating a specific plan makes it more likely that you will follow through. Having a detailed strategy leverages the power of intention. And ultimately, reduces decision fatigue.

Example: Instead of saying, "I will exercise more," say, "I will go for a 20-minute walk after work every day."

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Your environment is vital

The world around you can make or break this process. According to psychology, human behaviour is not simply a product of individual traits or characteristics.

Your environment plays a crucial role in shaping your habits.

Example: a cluttered desk could encourage procrastination. However, an organized space can promote productivity. Additionally, the people around you and the norms of your surroundings can either reinforce good habits or make it harder to break bad ones.

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Cue, Routine, Reward

Charles Duhigg, author of "The Power of Habit," explains in his book that habits form through a loop with a series of steps:

• Cue - The trigger
• Routine - The Behaviour
• Reward - How can I reward myself? And the cycle continues. Optimising this loop can help solidify new habits.

Example: If your goal is to meditate, you can set a cue such as a pillow in the spot where you would like to meditate, or even incense sticks if that is to your liking. The routine is the meditation itself - and the reward could be a sense of calm or a small treat like a chocolate. It's about implementable systems and creating daily habits that speak to the end goal.

Most people have heard the saying, "Consistency is key,".

Taking small steps consistently can fast-track on your journey of obtaining your goals.

It's easy to believe that only significant efforts lead to meaningful changes in your life. Like securing a promotion or having the wedding of your dreams. However, this all-or-nothing mentality often results in discouragement and inconsistency.

Keep the focus on small, manageable habits (work smart, not hard). You can easily avoid this set back and build momentum over time. It is essential to recognise that perfection is not the goal; progress is.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says, "Success is the product of your daily habits—not a once-in-a-lifetime transformation."

The outcome of one's life is the result of one's habits.

My father always says, "You do not rise to the level of your goals, but you fall to the level of your systems." - It's all about the systems or good practices you have instilled in your life that will see you through your journey.

When it comes to developing good habits, the key is to start small, stay consistent, and trust the process.

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