Habitual Learning

Over the years, I have heard and read (from various sources) that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. How about breaking one? Haha! Usually, I have a week's worth of blog posts written and timed to post automatically. This past week's events have not allowed for me to write, so the past two days I did not post. I almost felt guilty, but then what would be the point about sharing living guilt free if I did that? Life happens and sometimes we just do not have time to blog. Will that be a deal breaker for me sharing posts everyday? No. I choose to keep writing. Sometimes, we miss a day of our habits. It's does not mean we have to quit or start over, It just means we get back on track and continue forward.

From an early age, my husband and I work hard to teach our children the value of caring for their personal items. As early as they can crawl, we teach them how to pick up their toys and put their books away. When they are about 3 years of age, we teach them how to periodically sort through their belongings and to the "keep, toss, sell, donate" method to deep clean their room. By the time they are 7 years of age, getting rid of items is mastered as well as going to the bathroom when needed.

When my daughter was five years of age, she wanted a watch. Wanting to give her the opportunity to earn this desired item, we talked to her about the tidiness of her room, which seemed to have no hope. Upon a friend's suggestion, I placed a calender on her wall and each day that she picked up her room, she would mark the calender. When she had a full month filled, she earned her watch. This proved to be a great method as she not only earned her watch, but learned the value of taking care of her personal belongings. Although it took a few months to finally earn the watch, it only took one solid month of trying to establish this habit. (Sometimes, we need to review those teachings and reinforce them as they get older. Now would be a good time as she is 8 and this morning her room is....not so tidy.)

Developing a habit does not have to take a lot of time from your day. It can be simple as saying a prayer in the morning, to meditating for 5 minutes, hugging your kids each day... the list goes on and on. Choose a habit you want to create. Write it on your calender, program it into your phone... whatever you need to do in order to do it! Try it for 21 days and see what happens. If you skip a day, keep going! Don't give up just because it has not developed yet. You can do this! It is a learning process- a time for growing, stretching, and learning. 

What habit do you want to work on? I am working on personal scripture study. I will let you know how it goes. 

Ever Improving-
Mama Dragon