Why Strengthen Habits?
Good day, good day, good day! If you’re like me, you might often feel there’s not enough time in the day to strengthen habits. Work, social media, and endless online distractions can leave us drained and disconnected. That’s why I took on the Be More Social Daily Challenge — just ten minutes a day to focus on what truly matters: connection, purpose, and personal growth.
Today, I’m sharing how I worked to strengthen my habits during this challenge. Developing good habits doesn’t happen overnight, but small, intentional actions build the foundation for lasting change. Let me take you through my journey.
How I Strengthen Habits: A Personal Framework
1) Starting Small to Strengthen Habits
On Tuesday, after reflecting on clarifying my purpose the day before, I focused on creating habits that aligned with my goals. The first habit I tried? Taking time each day — just ten minutes — to disconnect from distractions and engage meaningfully with the people around me.
One simple action I began was moving my laptop to create a more open, inviting space for connection. Even a small shift in the environment helped me focus better. The lighting wasn’t perfect, but what mattered was the intention behind the action.
2) Building Consistency: Leveraging Strengths to Strengthen Habits
As I worked on strengthening habits, I leaned into my natural strengths:
- Strategic Thinking (my #2 strength): I’m always looking for ways to improve, not just change. The maximizer mindset guided me to build on what was already working and make it better.
- Communication: This strength helped me reach out to friends and colleagues intentionally, rather than relying on passive interactions.
- Activator: Instead of waiting for the “right time”, I acted on ideas immediately — sending messages, starting conversations, or even drafting a new book.
3) Build Community Support
One of the most powerful lessons I learned was the value of a support system. I didn’t strengthen habits alone. I had a group called my leadership team:
- Tim: A great communicator and individualizer who helped tailor our approaches to fit each team member.
- Christian: Focused on relationships, connection, and faith — reminding me of the human side of habit-building.
- Donna Rose: Our new recruiter, bringing fresh energy and commitment to being present and learning.
- Cloude: A confident leader whose self-assurance inspired me to stay steady in my efforts.
Together, we held each other accountable and celebrated small wins — like publishing the first draft of Be More Crouchy, Stay Less Grouchy (yes, I like playful names!).
A Step-by-Step Framework for Strengthening Habits
If you’re looking to strengthen your own habits, here’s a simple framework I followed:
Step 1: Identify the habit and its purpose
Ask yourself: Why do I want to build this habit? For me, it was about reconnecting and creating space for meaningful interactions.
Step 2: Start with small, daily actions
Big change begins with small steps. Ten minutes a day was enough to create momentum without feeling overwhelmed.
Step 3: Involve others
Whether it’s a colleague, friend, or family member, having a partner or team keeps you motivated and accountable.
Step 4: Reflect and adjust
Each day, I took time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t. If something felt forced, I tweaked it. The goal wasn’t perfection — it was progress.
Step 5: Celebrate growth
Every small win counts. From finishing a draft of a book to simply showing up for a daily call, I made sure to acknowledge those moments.
Personal Stories That Shaped My Habits
What really brought this process to life were the stories and names behind each chapter of my journey.
- Be More Crouchy, Stay Less Grouchy: Writing this book became a fun habit I looked forward to. The name came from my surname, Crouch, and the idea of lightening up through humor.
- Be More Cloudy and Sunny: Inspired by Cloude’s confidence and my surfing nickname, Sunny, this reminded me of the balance between strength and light-heartedness.
- Be More Sticky and Gloopy: Our “glue crew” — Julia, Carlos, and Dan — showed me that sticking together (even virtually) strengthens not just habits but relationships.
- Be More Remembered: This chapter was all about legacy. Strengthening habits isn’t just about today; it’s about building something worth remembering.
These names and stories kept things fun, meaningful, and memorable.
The Role of Environment in Habit Strengthening
Even small environmental changes had a big impact on my habit-building journey:
- Moving my laptop made my workspace feel more social.
- Choosing quieter times of the day helped me focus.
- Creating visual reminders (like book titles or sticky notes) kept my goals top of mind.
Lessons Learned
- Habits thrive on purpose. When you know your why, the how becomes clearer.
- Connection fuels growth. Surrounding yourself with supportive people makes strengthening habits easier — and more fun.
- Small actions compound over time. Ten minutes a day might not seem like much, but over weeks and months, it creates lasting change.
Your turn: Strengthen Your Habits
Ready to strengthen your own habits? Here’s how you can start today:
- Set aside ten minutes for intentional connection.
- Identify one small change you can make in your environment.
- Reach out to a friend or colleague who inspires you.
- Reflect at the end of the day: What worked? What could be better?
Drop a comment below: What habit are you working on? How will you strengthen it today? Join our community at chooseyouchapter.com.au for more tips, tools, and encouragement.
