It’s Wednesday at 9pm, you’re at home on the sofa, and then you suddenly realise you have no idea where the evening’s gone… you’ve been mindlessly scrolling for hours! Social media boosts dopamine in our brains, which is the hormone that makes us feel happy but also keeps us online. If one of your resolutions this year was to reduce the amount of time you spend on social media, you’re not alone. In 2017, more people pledged to give up social media than smoking!
But before you delete the apps, it’s actually harder to quit social media by going cold turkey. If you’d like to be more mindful about your scrolling, join us in reading some of the most popular self-help books on the market!
This week? We’re indulging in some easy self-care wins with habit expert James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits. Whether you’re looking to overhaul your house, get organised, or stick to a new routine—Atomic Habits encourages small changes based on 4 rules that can help you achieve immense personal goals. These 4 rules are 1. Make it obvious, 2. Make it attractive, 3. Make it easy, and 4. Make it satisfying.
Make it obvious encourages you to start your new habits by bringing them into focus. Whether it’s leaving a water bottle by your desk to remind you to drink more water or setting out your running shoes for an early jog, keeping a visible reminder is key!
Next, make it attractive taps into the power of motivation. Associate your new habit with positive emotions or reward yourself with something you enjoy once you’ve ticked the task off your to-do list to keep yourself motivated! We’ve been doing household chores with one of our favourite podcasts in the background—we highly recommend!
The third rule is make it easy, and this acknowledges that habits are easy to stick to when they’re easy to complete. If you’re aiming for a more streamlined morning routine, try a wardrobe detox before you get started or prep your lunches for the week the night before.
Finally, make it satisfying seals the deal. Celebrate small victories, relish in your progress, and bask in the satisfaction of a job well done. This keeps you coming back to your habits and gives you a well-deserved hit of dopamine.
Are you trying any new habits this year? Let us know over on Instagram if you've read the book!
