Create a New Habit in February

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

We’re a month into 2008, my friends! Whether you’re sticking to your goals for the year or not, this is the time to buckle down and create the new habit you’ve been wanting, a habit that will lead to your goal

I’d like to give you a great tip to start your year off right: Join the Zen Habits February Challenge on the Zen Habits forums.

What is it?
The Zen Habits challenges are monthly challenges that have worked great for many Zen Habits readers in the past year. Basic concept: you commit yourself to sticking to a habit for one month. You log in to the Zen Habits forums as often as possible, and report your progress in the daily check-in thread. This accountability to your fellow challenge members is what makes the challenge work.

At the end of a month, if you can stick to your challenge with no (or very few) exceptions, you should have a new habit. Repeat the next month.

This process worked very well for me this year, and for many others. I’d bet it’ll work for you too.

How to do it
It’s very simple. Do the following:

1. Reply to the Challenge thread and post your challenge for February. Only one habit per month, please.
2. Make it a very accomplishable goal. Don’t try to exercise every day for 1 hr. Try 5 or 10 minutes instead. Trust me, you’ll be much more successful.
3. Those who post to the daily check-in threads every single day are much more successful. If you miss a day of reporting, you’ll be fine, but the more consistent you are in reporting in, the better.
4. Keep a positive attitude! Expect setbacks now and then, but just note them and move on! No embarrassment in this challenge!

Good luck everyone! And here’s to a great new habit for February!

Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones. - Benjamin Franklin

Create a New Habit in February

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

I’d like to give you a great tip to start your year off right: Join the Zen Habits February Challenge on the Zen Habits forums.

At the end of a month, if you can stick to your challenge with no (or very few) exceptions, you should have a new habit. Repeat the next month.

This process worked very well for me this year, and for many others. I’d bet it’ll work for you too.

How to do it
It’s very simple. Do the following:

Good luck everyone! And here’s to a great new habit for February!

Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones. - Benjamin Franklin

Posted on 1 February 2008 in Aboutzenhabits, Habits |
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Comments (15)

SD Says:

February 1st, 2008, 19:11 pm

I think I’m going to have to do this. I’ve been enjoying your ebook, so now joining this challenge would be perfect.

Zack Says:

February 1st, 2008, 19:41 pm

I’m with you SD. I am going for it as well.

I think this is a wonderful idea.

Alex Liu Says:

February 1st, 2008, 19:55 pm

I can’t see the February Challenge yet. Is it up yet?

I looked into the January Challenge and there are many daily check-in threads. It’s awesome and this is a great idea. To have a community to support ourselves to form new habit and support each other on their habit as well!

Thanks! I’m with you!

Amir Ahmad | PassionBasedLearning.com Says:

February 1st, 2008, 20:31 pm

Cool idea. :)

cognitive dissident Says:

February 1st, 2008, 23:36 pm

FYI: the alleged quote from Aristotle is actually a paraphrase by Will Durant, from his book The Story of Philosophy. See this WikiQuote article:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Aristotle

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 1:54 am

I’m so excited about 2008! I’ve already set out twelve habits for the twelve months. After reading one of your posts late last year, I decided that my January habit would be to read slower, much like Tyra Banks does when she’s trying to be serious. In any case, it’s worked out great. While it does take twice as long to read anything as before, it also makes the material twice as enjoyable! It’s a must!

Gina Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 9:55 am

I enjoy the idea you have shared. I actally attend WW meetings and this was our topic for the week. Break bad habits and create new ones. For me to come across this must say alot. I will being today with a new habit!!!

Greg Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 13:40 pm

Joined teh forums, developing a habit!

Jussi Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 16:14 pm

I guess another word for “excellence” in that Aristotle quote could be “virtue”. (At least if you asked Aristotle.)

oakling Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 19:42 pm

Flylady does this too. I prefer it to the normal, seemingly insurmountable way that people do new year’s resolutions. But I also prefer my own approach, which is to give myself a project for the year that I get to work on the whole time instead of a goal that I am suppose to be able to accomplish and stick to from day one.

OldTricksNewDog Says:

February 2nd, 2008, 23:38 pm

I had started a blog about trying to use your zenhabit tips and ZTD. Then while waiting for a February start date you not only wrote an article about my first goal (planning to do only 3 things) but you invite us to join the goals forum in another post. It is like I am getting a coach.

Nice little coincidences. Thanks

blogrdoc Says:

February 3rd, 2008, 3:06 am

Hey Leo,

What a coincidence!! Check out the quote I put on my 1-28-08 post at my blog!!

That’s funny.

One of the new habits that I’m going to implement is at least one day out of the week, I’m going to do a RAM dump on every thing I did wrong and everything I did right for as long a period as I can remember (e.g. past 24-72 hours). I will document it and think about which behaviors I want to replicate and which ones I want to eliminate. I’ve already done this once and this has helped me:
1. avoid missing my exit when going to work
2. be more mindful of dressing my kid during cold weather.
3. avoid trading my stock index 401k fund to bonds even when the “sky seems to be falling” (this one hurt)

Nathan Bowers Says:

February 3rd, 2008, 6:27 am

It’s funny, several people I know are doing their New Year’s Resolutions in February. Maybe it’s because when you’re hungover on January 1 it’s not the best time to upgrade your life. I’m doing a February trial of 9 habits. I know you’re only recommending one at a time but mine are modest enough to be totally doable.

Going public with your goals is key. Tell your friends, blog about it, share in the forums, just be accountable in some way. I’m blogging mine and I’m also using http://makingthechain.com/ to track and share daily progress.

Matin Says:

February 3rd, 2008, 14:16 pm

I was thinking about new habits for Feb and then i checked zenhabits and its on it:-) I like your idea bloggerdoc. Its like a structured reflections, great idea:-)
X M

Monkey of Hope Says:

February 4th, 2008, 18:14 pm

Wow, thats great! I just startet one habit this month, which is the key-habit for my life. As i started it, i didn’t even thought about it as a habit, but as i thought about it it developed and i decided to do it one month. Interesting, to read this post. To write about it each day is a good thing on tracking if it’s working. Nice idea!