If you’re like me, at one point or another, you’ve probably made a lofty goal, and ended up not following through with it. In the past, I have set out to start a daily habit, and either forgot about it the next day or stopped after losing motivation.

I’m here to tell you that there is hope for creating habits that stick!

Here are tips to help implement a habit:

• Make a Plan
• Come up with milestones
• Set reminders
• Start small
• Set yourself up for success

Make a Plan

Creating a habit does not just happen. I had to get clear on what it was that I wanted, and I had to figure out how I was going to make it happen.

I started to write down the habits I wanted to create. Seeing it written down helped me further clarify my goals. When I wanted to start a daily journaling practice, I first wrote down my ultimate goal. Then I went further by clarifying what it would take to start (materials, resources, etc.) and how much time would I have to commit.

Come Up with Milestones

With your plan in hand, you can set your milestones.

Milestones are your achievements along the way. Let’s say you want to start a daily meditation practice, and currently you do not meditate at all. Your ultimate goal is to meditate everyday for at least 30 minutes.

If you’re starting from zero, it will be difficult to jump right into meditating. You might be able to get to 30 minutes for the first few days, but it will not be sustainable in the long run. Setting milestones can help keep you motivated and focused on your goal.

Your first milestone can be meditating for at least a minute every day in the first three weeks. Your second milestone can be meditating for at least 5 minutes the first month and a half. Your third milestone can be meditating for 10 minutes after two months, and so on and so forth.

Each time you reach a milestone, give yourself props! You’re making progress.

Set Reminders

If a habit is out of sight, it will definitely be out of mind. Setting reminders will help you take action.

Since I tend to be forgetful, I find that a mix of different types of reminders helps me. I set alarms on my phone and put time on my calendar.

Another tip that has helped me comes from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear is to make it obvious.

Seems obvious, right? (Kidding.)

You can remind yourself about the habit you want to implement by setting cues to take action. If your goal is to workout every morning, you can make it obvious by putting out your workout clothes the night before in a place you frequent in the morning (kitchen counter, bathroom, etc.). Or if you want to write daily for 5 minutes before work, you can put your notebook and pen on top of your laptop when you’re off for the day, so the next morning you will be reminded when you see it.

Start Small

I have made the mistake of starting at the end. What I mean is there are some habits that require us to work up to it. Starting small helps with motivation and consistency.

I used to have an all or nothing perspective. I would set a goal to make reading a daily habit, but I would fret if I only read a few pages. I have since realized that progress is progress.

Those little wins accumulate to form big wins. Start small, and keep building.

Set Yourself Up for Success

If you follow the tips above, you’re already setting yourself up for success. Another part of it is being self-aware. Be honest with yourself about how much time you can and want to commit, and be reasonable about the milestones you set.

Being self-aware also means leaning in to what works best for you. I am a morning person, so I used to try to get myself to workout at the gym every morning. Once I realized that I actually enjoy slow, chill mornings, I did away with the morning workout, and I created a morning routine that was more conducive to my ideal lifestyle. Rest assured, I found a better time to workout. 🙂

Habits will stick if they are important to you and if they align with your values and personal vision. Find what works best for you, and keep moving forward.