What if we could design ourselves the way we wanted to be? There is no doubt that you’re a busy woman. Perhaps you are a mom, work a full-time job, and all day people are constantly competing for your time and attention. However, you also need to take care of the house, get enough exercise, eat the right foods, and do other self-care activities. What if there was a way to put all of that on autopilot so that you didn’t need to think about any of it? What if we could become powerhouse women on autopilot? That is the magic and power of habits.
I have been reading the Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. I have always been fascinated with habits. We are basically the sum of our habits. What we think, what we do, how we interact with others, and the way we think about ourselves all are habits. We aren’t even aware of the majority of the habits we have. Duhigg writes, “Subconscious mechanisms impact the countless choices that seem as if they’re products of well-reasoned thought, but actually are influenced by urges most of us barely recognize or understand.” We act based on our subconscious habits.
But there’s the thing – habits can be created, changed, remodeled, or designed. We don’t have to accept the status quo. Once we are able to recognize a habit, that is a habit that can be changed. We can choose who we want to be one habit at a time. I’m not saying it is easy to change a habit, but it IS possible. Not only that, once a habit has been engrained, it barely takes thought. Yes, you may struggle to go to the gym, but make it a habit, and it will be practically effortless to make gains. Champions don’t do extraordinary things. They do ordinary things consistently without thinking about them.
Duhigg tells the story of an experiment done by MIT researchers where tiny wires and probes were inserted into rats’ brains to monitor brain activity as rats learned and memorized a maze. At the beginning, their brains were working hard, but after the maze became a habit, their brains only lit up at the beginning of the maze (during the cue) and at the end (the reward). As the rat learned how to navigate the maze and the route became more and more automatic, their mental activity decreased. I don’t know about you, but the thought of my mental load decreasing sounds very appealing. There are so many things going on in my life, so many demands on my time and attention, the idea of an important activity requiring less mental activity really appeals to me. An efficient brain allows us to stop thinking constantly about basic behaviors so we can devote our mental energy to other things that are vying for our attention.
Since we are the sum of our habits, I want to design my life based on habits that build me up into the woman I want to be. Imagine the possibilities of a life where your most important actions happen effortlessly. By focusing on developing and refining habits, we can create a life that runs smoothly, where the daily tasks that once felt overwhelming become second nature. This frees up mental space and energy to focus on what truly matters—whether it’s deepening connections with loved ones, pursuing passions, or simply enjoying a moment of peace.
As I continue to explore and implement the ideas from The Power of Habit, I’m committed to designing my life in a way that aligns with my values and aspirations. By consciously crafting habits that support my goals, I can become the best version of myself—a woman who is fit, present, mindful, healthy, and loving, not by force or willpower alone, but by design.
So, let’s embark on this journey together. For the rest of the month, I want to focus on the power of habits. Let’s start small, one habit at a time, and watch how these seemingly minor changes transform our lives. Remember, the magic lies not in doing extraordinary things but in doing ordinary things consistently and with intention. Together, we can decrease our mental load, increase our capacity, and truly design the life we want to live.
What habits will you focus on this week to start designing your life?
Work at Home Widow 