In Charles Duhigg’s book, The Power of Habit, he discusses the idea of keystone habits: “We have habits everywhere in our lives, but certain routines — keystone habits — lead to a cascade of other actions because of them.”
What are keystone habits?
According to Duhigg, “Keystone habits influence how we work, eat, play, live, spend, and communicate”, and they “start a process that, over time, transforms everything.” Keystone habits, regardless of how big or small they are, can help us achieve the goals we set for ourselves.
Here are 3 simple and powerful keystone habits to adopt, which can change your life for the better:
- Exercise: Exercise encourages us to lead a healthier lifestyle, which includes eating healthier too. The author mentions those who exercise have increased patience, reduced stress, and are more productive at work. Additionally, exercise can assist with weight loss, confidence, less stress, mood boosting and better sleep.
- Daily gratitude: If you are someone who always complains about the things going wrong in your life, this is keeping you from progressing in life. By simply switching your attitude from expecting to appreciating, you will realize a difference in your mood and how your life will shape afterwards. Don’t know how to get started? Write one line about what or who you are grateful for everyday, it is sure way to avoud negativity. By actively searching for things you are grateful for, the mind goes from feeling deprived and moves into a state of abundance. This keystone habit will help push us toward our goals and approach life positively.
- Planning ahead of time: Sitting down for a few minutes and developing a detailed plan for the week, can help you highlight and focus on the most important tasks. You can also use this keystone habit to set aside time for another good habit, such as exercising!
You can learn more about keystone habits and the power they have in our lives in the Power of Habit.