There is a simple yet powerful recipe for developing a habit. Use it to develop any habit you desire. Make no excuses, just keep going until it becomes strongly incorporated into your behaviour and reward yourself. These are the recommendations of famous coach Brian Tracy on his blog.
1) Make a decision
Be determined that you are going to start acting in a specific way 100% of the time whenever such behaviour is required. Then start doing exactly that.
2) Allow no exceptions
Never allow an exception to your new habit pattern during the initial stages. No excuses and no rationalisations. You need the habit to become automatic.
3) Tell others you are practising a new behaviour
It is amazing how much more disciplined and determined you will become if you know that others are watching to see whether you are following through on your resolution.
4) Visualise your new habit
Visualise yourself behaving in a particular way in a particular situation. This new behaviour will be accepted by your subconscious mind and become automatic more quickly.
5) Persist and reward yourself
Persist in the new behaviour until it becomes automatic to the point you feel uncomfortable if you don’t stick to it. Reward yourself for adhering to the new behaviour. This will reinforce your resolve.
-jk-