Ever have times when you feel like you’re hanging on by a thread? When life is busy or crazy or strange or extra happy or extra sad and it feels way outside your normal zone? Habits can help us stay anchored in our “normal” life. Even if we have to throw most of our routines and “normalcy” out the window, keeping one or two key habits in place can help us. I like to call them anchor habits.
Anchor habits are habits that can keep you grounded when you’re hanging on by a thread.
This can be when life is busy, when a major life event happens and your day-to-day is upended a bit, during times of transition, on vacation, around the holidays, during the summer if that changes your schedule or your kids’ schedule.
Anchor habits can keep you from going completely off track with your goals and can keep some normalcy going in different areas of your life.
Ideally, your anchor habits will be habits that you already have in place before you need them. But if not you can establish a new habit as an anchor habit- just keep it simple so it’s easy to implement!
Some anchor habit examples…
Eating a healthy breakfast is a good example of an anchor habit for me. If “eating clean” is a big goal for me, but I’m on vacation where I know I’ll have more treats, eat at restaurants more often, etc., then I’ll really dig in my heels on my healthy breakfast. Even if we’re going to the amazing Orange Blossom Bakery in Buxton, NC, and I know I’ll be eating some donuts, I’ll start with my healthy breakfast.
(My latest healthy breakfast obsession? Kefir with blueberries, chia, and cinnamon. Plus oatmeal with a teaspoon of sunbutter, a splash of coconut milk, and cinnamon. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? And why am I so obsessed with oatmeal?…it’s so boring, yet so fantastic.)
Posting “quotes of the day” is a good example of an anchor habit for my business. No matter what is happening in my day-to-day life, which might include other work responsibilities, I post a quote each day. Sometimes I feel like it’s silly, but these quotes are important to me for a few reasons. The most important is that I know some people really look forward to them. But, also, for me, they’re a way to stay connected to my business when I’m feeling disconnected. (usually due to a lack of time to commit to it…I know, I know, I need to make it a priority)
Drinking water first thing in the morning is a super easy anchor habit! No matter where you are or what’s going on, you can usually manage to do that one thing. Drink a glass of water. It’s good for your health and starts your day off in a positive way.
Making your bed is another great anchor habit. Even if the rest of your house looks like a bomb went off, at least your bed is made! It gives you a feeling of productivity early on and is a way to take care of yourself…it’s much nicer to crawl into a nicely made bed at the end of a long day.
Having a set bedtime and/or wake-up time, exercise, journaling, reading, meditating…these are all great examples. But remember, during tough or busy times you might not keep up ALL the habits. So having one or two anchor habits that you cling to no matter what is the key here.
How’s your habit health?
Any habit can really be an anchor habit. Look at your day…what good habits do you have in place? Where could you use a healthier habit? (See this post for some ideas!) What’s one habit that you clung to when times were tough? I’d love to hear from you!
You can comment here, email me at mary@stayathomefit.com, or find me on Facebook and Instagram.
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