Ep 153: Why can’t I stick to my habits?

In our last episode, Richard and Rachael looked at some of the ways goals and goal-setting can make behaviour change more difficult than it needs to be.

In this episode, Richard looks at some of the reasons we find it hard to stick to new habits. This could include trying to cultivate a complex and challenging habit, trying to start too many new habits at the same time, or just buying into a habit that’s not really what we want in our lives. The social pressure that surrounds change at the start of a new year is a great example of this.

We might also be focused on the results – which won’t arrive for quite some time – and abandon the habit the first time we hit an obstacle or setback. Just like with goals, it’s best to ensure our habits are truly aligned with our values, are of an appropriate size, and that we respond flexibly to the kinds of challenges that make keeping to a new routine more difficult.

We’d love to know how you’ve managed to stick to new habits and what works for you. Email us at podcast at worklifepsych dot com or just leave a comment under the YouTube video.

Resources for this episode

Ep 152: The dark side of goals: https://youtu.be/N2yPSKtPI7g

February meet-up on Emotional Literacy: https://www.worklifepsych.club/events/february-meet-up-emotional-literacy?instance_index=20240229T120000Z&utm_source=manual

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RiRhu1hrC48