Small steps

I recently saw a post asking how to motivate behavioral change to encourage sustainable actions by individuals.  I can’t remember where I saw the post so I can’t respond directly, but I can provide a few ideas here.  Few people will make large lifestyle changes in a short period of time unless they are motivated by a crisis such as a serious health scare.  Making small changes is much easier.  Try choosing one small change and making it a habit.  In a few weeks, when the first change is integrated into your lifestyle, choose another small change.  The small changes will add up over time into a larger meaningful lifestyle change.  The literature I have seen that discusses changing habits emphasizes a few major concepts.  The bullet points below are from the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.  I have also heard good reviews about “Tiny Habits” by BJ Fogg but have not read it.  Both books emphasize making changes in small steps that eventually add up to big changes. 

• Make lifestyle changes in small steps, allowing changes to become familiar habits before adding more changes. 
• Make it easy to perform habits you want to encourage.  For example, if you want to turn off a group of electronics that use vampire energy in standby mode, put all of them on a single power strip that is easy to reach.  Then you can just turn off the power strip.  If you want to walk to work, set your alarm to get up earlier and pack your bag the night before. 
• Make the desirable changes attractive.  Pair an action you want to do with an action you need to do.  This helps remind you as well as providing a reward.
• Make it harder to perform habits you want to discourage.