In our day-to-day lives, it can be tough to form habits because there are so many distractions that can lead us right back to our old ways, such as a sudden invitation to happy hour or a phone call from a friend. Here are 5 scientific ways for any aspiring habit-builders form habits that will stick.
- Make “Micro-Quotas” and “Macro-Goals”
As it turns out, dreaming big is good advice after all! In a study about motivation, researchers found that abstract thinking can be an effective method to help with the discipline required to achieve a goal. You need to balance the desire of a big dream with your discipline to finish day-to-day activities that may not produce dramatic results but are a positive step in the right direction. The key is to make “micro-quotas” and “macro-goals.” Your goals are the big picture items you hope to accomplish while your quotas are the minimum amounts of work that you need to complete each day to make these goals possible. Quotas keep daily work approachable and your goals eventually achievable.
