habits are crucial in determining success. As Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” If we adopt empowering habits, we can move closer towards our goals and dreams. However, if we adopt lousy habits, we will waste our lives and get nothing done.

As we approach the new year, it is important to reflect on our accomplishments and goals from the previous year. Did we achieve what we set out to do? If 2016 was a successful year for us, then let’s continue on that path and strive for even greater success in 2017. But if 2016 was a year of disappointment, it is time to learn from our mistakes and look forward to the future. It is time to reboot and focus on the habits that will lead us to success.

To make 2017 our best year yet, we need to adopt empowering habits that will move us towards our goals. However, it is important to start with just one habit at a time. Trying to develop multiple habits simultaneously will only lead to failure and wasted effort. So choose one habit that you want to develop and commit to it. Whether it’s waking up early, working out daily, reading more, or writing consistently, choose something that you can commit to doing every day.

Once you have identified the habit you want to adopt, it is important to incorporate it into your daily schedule. Your commitment to spending time towards your goal is crucial in determining whether or not you succeed in adopting your new habit. So create a schedule for your habit and stick to it. If you want to read for 30 minutes each day, decide what time you will set aside for reading. If you want to work out in the gym daily, determine when and for how long you will go. Dedicate yourself to your schedule and commit to your habit every day, regardless of how you feel.

To ensure that your habit becomes ingrained, utilize the habit-stacking method. This involves inserting your new habit before or after an existing habit. The existing habit then acts as a trigger for you to perform the new habit. For example, if you want to read before bed, you can use the trigger “After I brush my teeth, I will read for 30 minutes.” By connecting your new habit to an existing habit, you are more likely to follow through and make it a part of your routine.

Rewards are an important factor in habit development. People are usually motivated to do something because there is a reward involved. So determine what reward you will give yourself for completing your habit. It can be something small, like a snack or a break, or something larger, like a night out with friends or a trip to the movies. By creating a reward system, your mind will have something to look forward to after completing your habit, making it more enjoyable and likely to continue.

The “Jerry Seinfeld” technique is a simple but effective way to measure your progress in developing a new habit. Every day that you successfully complete your habit, draw a big red “X” on your calendar. Your mission is to continue drawing the “X” every day, creating a chain of successful days. This technique helps you visualize your progress and creates a sense of satisfaction and motivation in continuing the habit.

It is important to focus on building one good habit at a time. Trying to take on too much will only lead to overwhelm and failure. By focusing on one habit each month, you can ensure that you are fully committed and dedicated to its development. Imagine the impact that 12 success habits will have on your life in a year.

Successful people understand the importance of mastering the fundamentals. They focus on improving and practicing the basics every day. On the other hand, average people are constantly searching for the next big idea or trend, neglecting the importance of the basics. This is why consistency and commitment to good habits are key in achieving success.

As we enter the new year, let us remember Aristotle’s words and recognize the power that our habits have in shaping our lives. It is up to us to adopt empowering habits that will move us towards our goals and dreams. It is up to us to commit to our schedules and rewards, to utilize the habit-stacking method, and to measure our progress with the “Jerry Seinfeld” technique. By doing so, we can make 2017 our best year yet, filled with accomplishments and abundance.