Family Talk Topics

Have you ever noticed that bad habits seem easy to pick up, while the positive habits can seem difficult to master? Check out the tips below to help you, and everyone in your family, create positive, lasting habits!

Positive habits help to

• Build a sense of responsibility and independence
• Increase productivity
• Boost self-esteem and increase emotional well-being
• Lower stress

Listen to the latest Andover Airwaves podcast about healthy habits:

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become,” James Clear, Atomic Habits.

Habit Stacking

Creating a new routine or habit can be challenging. One way to make it easier is to try habit stacking! Think of a habit that you already have established, then “stack” a new habit onto it. Our brains love to make connections, so attaching something new to something you already do will help you remember to complete the new task.   

Example: Your child wants to create a habit of reading for 10 minutes in the morning before school. She is already in the habit of eating breakfast every day.  She can stack reading onto eating breakfast to help her brain remember to perform the new task.

Reflect and Celebrate

Anytime we are working to create a new habit, it is important to build in checkpoints or intentional times to stop and reflect on how things are going. Make necessary changes to your behavior. Then, celebrate what is going well and reward yourself! This process builds stamina and a desire in our brains to continue the behavior.