3548: How to Start Good Habits When You're Less Busy by Emma McLaren of Get Myrth

[00:00:00] Before we start, please check out our new podcast, Good Sleep. Have you ever noticed how a calm mind can really set the stage for a good night's sleep? That's the idea behind our new podcast, Good Sleep. Greg, our host from Optimal Relationships Daily, is here to help ease you into a peaceful night's rest with some positive affirmations. And these affirmations aren't just comforting, they can help ease anxiety and nurture positive thoughts, setting you up for true good sleep.

[00:00:25] So press play on Good Sleep tonight because a good tomorrow starts with a good night's sleep. Just search for Good Sleep in your podcast app and be sure to pick the one from Optimal Living Daily. This is Optimal Living Daily, How to Start Good Habits When You're Less Busy by Emma McLaren of GetMyrth.com. And I'm Justin Malik, your personal narrator reading to you every day, including holidays, from the best blogs or articles I can find.

[00:00:52] So without further ado, let's get right to our next article and continue optimizing your life. How to Start Good Habits When You're Less Busy by Emma McLaren of GetMyrth.com. Here's a thought experiment for you. Which would you rather do? Start a new exercise routine in the middle of a chaotic season at work when you're pulling long hours, unable to cook much for yourself at home and not sleeping enough?

[00:01:19] Or start that same new exercise routine when things are going more slowly at work, you have a little time to prepare healthy meals for yourself, and you're getting a manageable amount of sleep. We'd bet dollars to donuts and a cuddle with a sloth that you'd pick the latter if you could. Choosing that scenario is reasonable and, in fact, it's smart.

[00:01:41] It's easier to take up new habits when other stressors in your life aren't so intense and when you aren't being pulled in several directions at once by a busy schedule. What's more, those new habits are more likely to stick if you can get them well-established during a period of relative calm. It's easier to form good habits when you're less busy. Here at Myrth, we're focused on proactive, not reactive, strategies for maintaining our health and wellness. The logic behind this is simple.

[00:02:10] It can be harder to start something new when you're stressed, in a state of upheaval, and feeling overwhelmed. Your executive function, that is your ability to plan, predict consequences, and make good decisions, is negatively affected by stress. Stress also hampers your brain's ability to form new memories and learn new things. Crowded schedules, especially schedules that are crowded with things we didn't choose to put there, are a common, intense source of stress.

[00:02:38] The chaos of living an overcrowded life often keeps us from having time to sort and categorize our thoughts, commit new information to long-term memory, and sift through individual data points to look for patterns. That means that if you want to set yourself up for success, it's easier when your brain is in a good place to make wise decisions and learn new things easily. In other words, start the meditation habit before your work schedule picks up pace and intensity.

[00:03:05] Eat the veggies and get into an exercise routine before the serious health consequences appear. Check in regularly with yourself before you reach the point of burnout. Use the path of least resistance to form new habits. There's another reason for picking up good habits when life is going more smoothly. It turns out that when a habit is easy to follow, you're more likely to stick with it. That's why we love habit stacking, which helps you leverage old habits to build new ones more easily.

[00:03:35] It's also why we like starting new habits in good seasons of life as much as possible, because it turns out that using the path of least resistance can be a good thing sometimes. So when life is mellower, that's a great time to pick up a new exercise routine, commit to eating more fruits and veggies, start a meditation or prayer routine, join a book club, or do something else that takes effort but is good for your body or mind. We know choosing the things that are good for us can be hard sometimes,

[00:04:04] especially during times of stress and upheaval, but it'll be easier if you're already in the habit before the hard times arrive. Don't let stress stop you from making changes. Of course, this isn't to say that you shouldn't try to start new habits during rough times too. Anytime is a good time to make good choices for yourself, but sometimes will be easier than others. It's also important to know that while stress is common in particularly busy periods of life, the two aren't inextricably linked.

[00:04:34] We can be busy but relaxed, and we can be stressed but not have much going on calendar-wise anyway. Take, for example, being recently laid off. In any event, whether you're busy or stressed or both, don't let that stop you from making needed changes anyway. It's easier to make changes when life is calm, but it's still possible and healthy to make those changes when life is harder. Remember the old saying, when life closes a door, it opens a window.

[00:05:04] In other words, when something bad happens in life, like losing a job, a major health event, an unexpected move, that can also be an opportunity to make some changes in your life. But if right now you just have to focus on surviving, do that first. If, though, this happens to be one of those mellower times for you, for whatever reason, try taking advantage of it. Have you wanted to practice a new language more diligently, check in more consistently with a loved one, or make your bed every morning?

[00:05:34] Give it a try and see how much easier it is to do when you're feeling relaxed and rested. You just listened to the post titled, How to Start Good Habits When You're Less Busy by Emma McLaren of GetMirth.com. And I'll be right back with my commentary. You know what I love about optimizing my day? Finding snacks that work as hard as I do. And that's why I love Wonderful Pistachios. It's become my go-to snack lately.

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[00:06:33] in a snack that packs a protein punch. Pistachios are known for their protein power, fiber, and better-for-you unsaturated fats for a combination that may help keep you feeling fuller longer. Whether you're running between meetings or optimizing your day, get snackin' and get crackin' with Wonderful Pistachios. Visit wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more. Thank you to Emma. When it comes to building habits, we don't talk about timing a lot.

[00:07:01] We talk about consistency, taking small baby steps, willpower, but not really timing, so it's good to hear this side of it. I think it's been true for me when things are a bit crazier, if I try to start a new habit, it doesn't last. Also true if I try to start too many at the same time. Maybe only one will stick. The science part was interesting. She said that stress affects our brain's ability to form new memories and learn new things, which does make sense.

[00:07:30] If we're stressed, we're in fight-or-flight mode, not learning mode. So trying to build a new habit during those times is like swimming against the current. But unfortunately, sometimes we always feel stressed or busy. We might not have that luxury of waiting for a calm period, and we don't want to get stuck in that way of thinking that we need to wait for the perfect time or the first of the month or the first of the year. So there is a balance, but definitely worth thinking about

[00:07:59] if we're piling on too much at the wrong time. So thank you to Emma for this one. Thank you for being here. Have a great rest of your day, and I'll see you tomorrow, where your optimal life awaits.