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You're working on self-change. Feeling good. Getting a new habit. And then it happens. Something interferes with your new routine. After all, life happens. Someone gets sick, something breaks, you go on a vacation. It's a long list.
All of a sudden, your new routine, your new and great wonderful habit, is under threat. You try to stick to it, but the interruption is just too much. You vow to go back to your habit once life returns to 'normal.' But life doesn't quite do that.
So, you backslide. You go back to your old ways.
But, you changed before and made it stick and you can make this change stick too. Here are some suggestions for how to make it happen. As usual, some of these you will know because you did them before and some of these will be new to you.
1. Embrace the 'New Normal.' It might be that your life has changed substantially and that it will be different for some time to come. Maybe you've switched jobs, moved, or included a new person or hobby in your life. This new thing or person, whatever or whomever it is, is making it difficult for you to do what you used to do. That's fine. These things happen. You're going to need to 'go with the flow' a bit. You're going to have to find a new way to fit your habit into your life. Maybe early morning workouts need to become evening ones. Maybe a two-hour block of piano practice isn't possible anymore. Maybe break it into smaller bits?
2. Related to #1, recognize that life happens. And it will continue to happen. Prepare yourself to adapt in the future.
3. It's okay to feel guilty. We all backslide. It's just part of being human. The important thing is to start plugging away again. Keep on truckin. Forget about where you were. Focus on where you want to be.
4. Re-read the what-went-right posts. Make your mini-plans and start repeating!
5. It might be time for some self-diagnosis. Ask yourself questions like, "Why did I get thrown off? What if something like this happens again? Can I be better prepared for the backslide threat? How did I avoid the backslide last time?"
With these tips for avoiding, or quickly getting over, the backslide, plus the what-went-right series of posts, you will be in great shape to get that great new habit that you want. After that, you can work on the next habit!
For more from yours truly, visit me at My Bad Habits. I am also on Twitter.
