advice

Habits cause mom to call it a four letter word

Of course, you’re wondering what “it?” Well, the headline is a little trick so let me explain…The idea of developing habits makes me wanna cuss! Yes, as much as I believe I’m getting better and that God is strengthening, I have some bad habits that just won’t go away. Uh, Correction. That are going to go away with a fight.
Now, if I have bad habits and everyone else in my house have different bad habits, what do you think that makes the house? Sometimes, most of the time, a hot mess. For example, we have this thing in our house that we have “house” shoes and street shoes…even though I am one of the few people here who adhere to it, but that’s what I try to get everyone to do it. See dirt is hardwood floors worse enemy and since time has not been so nice to the floors, well I try to keep as much dirt off. Also, the kids have issues with keeping pairs of shoes together, so if they take them off at the door, then they can find them in the morning. right?
Well, this system never really worked given that there are so many people in our family that you spend all day tripping over shoes if you get anywhere near the door. Crazy, huh? But we’ve been doing it for awhile. I’ve tried a shoe bin, a cubby hole and none of that works. There just isn’t any space to get it around, so I’m thinking about how to change this (and many other habits in my house). As I started thinking about the bad habits of myself and my family members, I got a bit overwhelmed and started to get frustrated.
Habits…I teach the Seven Habits and I know how crucial they are to our overall success in life. When I was running a successful home based business when I had no family nearby and small children, I developed the habit of waking up at 5 AM, so that I can think, organize my office, write down what I had to do that day, get fully dressed in nice clothes (it was part of what I did). I had to “find” time or “make” time. I realized that my old habits had to change in order for me to do what I attend to do–daily blogging, develop an internet radio brand and coach families on being wholly successful. So, I wrote down my bad habits, well the ones that are preventing from reaching my goals (I mean, I didn’t have an entire day. ) and then I had to put a new habit IN PLACE of it. The last step is so key that it is the reason why people are often not successful with dieting. You focus on what you want to take out or decrease, but you don’t always focus on what you add or increase, so when you get hungry or tired and you have no solutions and it is easier to just do what you were already doing.
Ok.
Time to get the bad habits out and the good habits in! Below is my starter list and I want YOU to share some of your (or your family’s bad habits) and what you’re going to do to change it.
1) Shoes by door. I am going to ask everyone to take them off at the door AND put them under their bed in their room.
2) Not enforcing the chore chart. I am going to be consistent with disciplinary action by writing down the infractions daily and then implementing the punishment on the weekend….when they can feel it.
3) Start to organize my paperwork and never finish. I am going to finish my file cabinet organizing and ONLY open mail at my desk. Does your mail have legs?
4) Not working out consistently. I am going to get a walking partner and commit to at least three days a week.
5) Laundry hampers being used as storage containers. YIKES! I am going to have a laundry sorting system where the hampers are dumped and then returned to their rightful place. Simple, but UGGH…a thorn in my side.
Now, remember…I got a ton of bad habits, but I’m only listing a few to get you to think about what habit is keeping you from achieving your goals, ANY goal! Can’t wait to read your list

© 2008 DahGurl.