How About a Habit Reset?

By Amy Berrafato, LMFT, CST

I’ve always loved this time of year. We’ve made it through another winter (no small feat), and spring is (almost! barely? crawling…) here, bringing alongside it a fresh wave of something new. Perhaps it’s renewed energy, seeds of hope, an open heart, or a clear mind. You can smell the pending change of season in the air.

As creatures of habit, it’s essential to notice and re-evaluate our habits at different stages, particularly at times of transition, since the momentum is already there for you. I’ve noticed that some of the things I added to my routine in the early stages of the pandemic don’t quite suit me anymore, and I need to pivot and let some of them go. I’ve also seen many clients stuck in a rut of staying home, with low motivation to do anything otherwise. This does not help complete the stress cycle or practice flexibility with change.

I’m thinking we need a reset here. In his wildly popular book Atomic Habits, James Clear discusses different aspects of forming and maintaining systems for healthy habits. It is SO easy to relate to! A few nuggets of his wisdom to consider:

  1. Start small. Rather than “I’m going to meditate for 1 hour every day,” try “I’m going to meditate for 1 minute every day.” This is putting a system in place for the habit of meditation, which gets your brain used to it.

  2. Make it attractive. Come up with something that makes the habit appealing to you so your willpower can take over. For me, it’s coffee while I meditate in the morning. And I never skip coffee.

  3. Connect to the identity of the person you wish to become. “I am someone who meditates regularly.” How great to access the part of us we want to grow!

Have a listen to Clear’s conversation with Brene Brown on Unlocking Us. You’ll want to take notes on this one:

https://brenebrown.com/podcast/atomic-habits-part-1-of-2/

https://brenebrown.com/podcast/atomic-habits-part-2-of-2/

It is never too late to hit that reset button. It’s all yours!


Amy Freier