Habits-4U2 – 7 Habits for Effective Wellness
- Nick (AI assisted)
- Dec 27, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2024
This is the introduction to our blog series “Habits-4U2”. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is one of my favorite books. It has helped millions of people take control of their lives. The habits are timeless tools for creating balance, purpose, and success.
In the PL³ series we tackled balancing private, professional, and public lives. This series will focus on the Habits to help you build and sustain wellness in every area of your life. While PL³ focused on managing roles, the Habits-4U2 take it to the next level by developing the mindset and life-skills needed to live effectively and intentionally.
Each of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People offers a new way to grow and maintain quality in your life:
Be Proactive: Take ownership of your choices and responses. You’ve got more control over your life than you think!
Begin with the End in Mind: Start with your big-picture goals. Knowing what you want helps you align your daily actions with your values. Ask yourself “Why” 3 times.
Put First Things First: Prioritize what really matters instead of just reacting to what feels urgent. (Spoiler: This is harder than it sounds!)
Think Win-Win: Focus on creating mutual success in your relationships—whether at work, home, or anywhere else.
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Listen deeply. Understanding others before you respond can strengthen relationships in incredible ways. This is empathy. It also works for negative self-talk.
Synergize: Embrace teamwork. By working with others, you can achieve more together than you could alone. The whole is more than the sum of its part. Together-care is better than self-care.
Sharpen the Saw: Take care of yourself first is the only way able you are able to care for others. Renewing your energy and focus regularly keeps you going strong.
Each blog will focus on one habit, breaking it down into practical ways to apply it to your life.
Prepare
The first habit is to be proactive. To make the most of this series, I suggest creating a simple Habits Journal. Think of it as your personal guide for this transformation—a space to reflect, dream, and plan.
Here’s how to get started:
Set Up Your Journal: Grab a notebook, use an app, or open a fresh document. Dedicate a section to each habit, leaving room to jot down reflections, action steps, and insights.
Define Your Wellness Goals: Think about 2-3 areas in your life you’d like to focus on improving. Write them down to keep them top of mind as you explore the habits.
Examples:
Want to improve your energy levels? Focus on creating better sleep and exercise habits.
Hoping for more quality family time? Find ways to unplug from work and be present at home.
Looking to grow personally? Build a habit of reading or practicing mindfulness daily.
Ask Yourself “WHY” Three Times: Picture your ideal life—what does it look like? For each goal, ask yourself “Why?” three times to dig deep into your true motivation.
Example:
Goal - “I want to be more connected in my personal life.”
Why? “So I can enjoy my time with friends and family more.”
Why? “Because those relationships mean the most to me.”
Why? “Because being connected brings me joy and purpose.”
This simple exercise helps clarify what really matters to you.
Write an Affirmation: Affirmations are powerful statements that help you focus on your goals. Write a short, positive sentence about the life you’re working toward.
Examples:
“I am intentional and focused on what matters most.”
“I create balance in my life with purpose and joy.”
“I am proactive and capable of achieving my goals.”
By starting with these small steps, you’ll be ready to dive into Habits-4U2 with clarity and purpose. Let’s explore how these timeless principles make it aBLe 4U2 build a Bright Life — one habit at a time.
Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Free Press
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