God has given us roles, responsibilities and callings, and we want to be faithful in what he God has given to us. We want to be healthy and enjoy good things. We want to spend our days well.

Habits help us do this. They are the building blocks of an intentional life. When we have good habits, we slowly become the people we want to be. We don’t get overwhelmed by BIG GOALS and BIG DREAMS, because we are focused on one small step at a time.

One small thing done everyday becomes a really big thing.

But what exactly is a habit? Let’s break it down.

What is a habit?

A habit is something you do over and over again. It is recurring. It is repetitive.

And we have a lot of them.

Our lives are full of habits.

We might have intentional habits, like drinking coffee in the morning, watching television in the evening, and going to church on Sunday. We brush our teeth, make our beds, and say “I love you.”

Other habits might not be as purposeful, like checking our phones, interrupting others, or leaving a burner on on the stove.

And while we can say that certain things are important to us, habits show the truth. They are telling, and they are powerful – either for good or bad.

Today I want to encourage you to take the reins of your habits and use them for good. Live with intention by making a lot of small, good choices.

How do we do this?

I’m glad you asked!

How to implement good habits.

Here are 9 ways to start implementing good habits.

1. Prioritize what’s important to you.

The first step in starting a new habit is naming your priorities. What do you need right now? In what area do you want to grow? What is important to you? How do you want this season to look? These types of questions will help narrow your focus and show you what sort of habit you need.

2. Pick one new habit.

Now it’s time to pick a habit to implement. Based on how you answered the previous questions, choose one and only one habit to start.

If you are feeling sleep deprived, perhaps you need a habit of an earlier bedtime or a restful activity. If you want to be more active, maybe you choose to begin working out. If you value books and literature, you may want to start reading daily. If you want to connect with more young moms, you could regularly invite people over for playdates.

Pick one new thing, based on your priorities, to incorporate into your life.

3. Choose a time.

Ask yourself when you will do this new activity. It probably won’t just happen by chance. Decide the day and time you will accomplish it.

Maybe it’s every Thursday at 9 AM. Maybe it’s every evening or only on weekdays in the afternoon. Pick a time. Decide when it fits into your daily life.

4. Designate a place.

Where will you do this habit?

Maybe you’ll read on the couch. Perhaps you’ll workout in your basement. You might walk around your block. Pick your place, so you don’t have to decide that later. When it’s time to do your activity, you won’t have to wonder about the details.

5. Stack it.

Attach your habit to another activity you already do regularly. For example, if you want to start journaling and you already read your Bible, decide to always write something after you read scripture.

Attaching a new habit to a pre-existing one helps you remember and incorporate your new activity.¹

6. Keep it small.

Don’t shoot too high. Smaller habits are easier to stick with, and you won’t burn yourself out by attempting too much.

Say you’ll read one page of a book, do 5 minutes of a workout, clean one drawer in your house, or pray for one person before bed. You can add on. You can do more, and you might decide you really want to once you start. But that’s not the goal. That’s not the aim.

Make your habit small, and you’ll be SO MUCH more likely to stay consistent.

7. Make it enjoyable.

If at all possible, make your habit FUN. We naturally do things we enjoy. We make time for what’s delightful.

So make your activity THAT.

Choose a book you LOVE. Find exercise you ENJOY. Turn on music or a podcast while you clean, and it will make it so much more pleasant. This doesn’t mean your habits don’t require work and discipline, but you’ll be much more likely to do them if they’re also fun.

8. Ditch perfection.

Remember that we won’t do things perfectly. We won’t keep up with our habits 100% of the time.

And that’s okay.

9. Do it again.

That being said, as much as you can, stay consistent. Show up even if it’s difficult.

Our habits don’t have to be grand, and our track record may sometimes be broken. But if we stay consistent, we will make imperfect progress.

Habits are powerful. They can help us achieve goals and live with intention. Let’s have good ones.

FAQ About Habits

1. What if I’m just unmotivated to stick to my habits?

Tell yourself you only have to do the activity for 5 minutes. Just put yourself in the right place at the right time. Get your workout clothes on. Go outside. Read a couple sentences. Open your Bible. Get your feet wet, and your motivation may just grow from there.

2. How do I maintain good habits as a busy Mom?

Bring your kids into as many activities as possible. Get them involved as much as you can, and then save what you can’t do together for early mornings, nap times, or after they go to bed.

3. How do I choose what habit to start first?

Pick the one that interests you the most and feels the most rewarding. Remember to keep it small. Don’t overwhelm yourself, and know that there will be ample time for more habits later.

1. Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones. Avery Publishing Group. ↩︎