6 Levels of Habits You Want

January 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Good Habits © by Horia Varlan

Level #1: Physiological habits

The physiological habits are the basic habits that form the foundation of your life. You have to master these habits to be able to achieve on the next levels of the hierarchy of habits. Every day you should consider what you could do better. Ask yourself: What can I do today to improve my sleep? The next day you ask: What can I do today to improve my exercise? The day after you ask: What can I do today to improve my diet? The fourth day you ask: What can I do today to improve cleansing?

These are the four basic groups of this level and on the fifth day you start over asking yourself what you can do to improve your sleep. It is a never-ending cycle that will help you master the basics.

Level #2: Safety habits

You need a place to live and you need a job to earn an income and to give you an identity and a purpose of life. First of all you have to master the basics, the physiological habits, then you can work on your safety habits. You do not have to do this every day but you should at least once a week work on these habits.

Write down you dreams and goals for each of the groups on this level and review them once a week. Safety habits encompass home, work, economy and order. See what you can do next week to get closer to your dreams and make a to-do list.

Level #3: Social Habits (Habits of love and belonging)

I’m still working on this model and I have based The Hierarchy of Habits on Maslow’s hierarchy of need and Frankl’s additions. Thus, the terms will change a bit and in the future I will call this level Social Habits.

On this level you will take care of your social network. Like level two you should write down your dreams and goals and practice your social skills and do some networking. Make sure that you have positive people around you, and that they support you and your worldview; and get rid of toxic people. Toxic people are people that are negative and do not contribute to your well being.

Level #4: Esteem habits

This is the level of habits most people begin with and very often they fail because they will not succeed unless they master the basics! If you do not master especially the physiological habits then there is not a chance that you will succeed at this level. So, back to basics!

However, if you have made yourself a solid foundation of good habits then it is time for you to work on this level. The groups of these habits are: Self-confidence, self-esteem and achievement. Most people with psychological problems have symptoms on this level and I have written three series about these problems. I will give you a link to these series that comprise 36 articles!

13 Ways to Improve Your Self-Confidence

12 Ways to Build Your Self-Esteem

11 Traits of Successful People

I have had serious problems with my self-esteem; I worked on the basic physiological habits AND the two levels following those habits. Do I have self-esteem problems anymore? Yes, but only if I do not get my sleep, exercise or proper food!

Level #5: Self-actualisation habits

This is where you set your life goals and start thinking about how you can realise your dreams. Everything is possible as long as you set your mind to it. This level is extremely difficult if you do not master the basics, but if you do master the basics then this level will be fun and easy.

Level #6: Transcendence habits

I don’t know if you can make transcendence habits, because this level is more like a consequence of success on all the other levels. You will start seeing how everything is connected and the meaning of life will be clear to you. You will feel oneness and connected to the universe. This level is almost spiritual.

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Why Physiological Habits Are More Important Than Anything Else

January 3, 2012 by 2 Comments

PhoTones Works #624 © by PhoTones_TAKUMA

The physiological habits are the habits you maintain to fulfil your physiological needs. They are the need for sleep, the need for eating, the need for exercise and the need for keeping a good health. I have grouped the habits in four groups: Sleep, exercise, diet and cleansing.

In the next level in the hierarchy of habits you find the habits you need to uphold a feeling of being safe and secure. This level is the safety habits and encompasses home, work, economy and order. But before you can start developing habit on this level you need to master the habits of the physiological level.

Let us assume that you have just been dismissed and now you don’t have a job. Without a job you don’t have any income. Without an income you cannot pay your bills etc. This is a very stressful situation. If you want to find a new job you have to keep peace of mind, stay focused and optimise your efforts to find a new job.

Do you think you will succeed in getting a new job if you are tired, hungry and have a bad health? No, you will not. If you were to hire a person for a job then you would choose a candidate that seem enthusiastic, energized, happy and by good health. You would want a person with a good spirit! That is exactly why you have to work on these characteristics by mastering your physiological habits.

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Good Habit 4: Caring Cleansing

January 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

herbal essence © by loosepunctuation

When I was a child I had a lot of budgerigars and they could spend hours preen themselves. The budgerigars have a habit of mutual preening and they seem to care for each other. They have a playful nature and are very curious; they always seem to have extra energy to do acrobatic exercises or a prolonged chat.

Cleansing is one of the physiological habits that I found difficult to name because I had to find one word that covered personal hygiene, excretion and clearing the mind. Cleansing is everything you do to clean your body and mind to work well. Take some extra time every day to give your body more attention; it will help you achieving more. I have listed a few good basic habits to take up.

1. Shower. How often you need to shower depends on what you do, but shower at least every second day. Use an antiperspirant after showering.

2. Toilet. Go to the toilet when the need to, do not hold it in. Drink water to cleanse out waste matter.

3. Brush and floss. Brush your teeth and use dental floss. Your teeth are very important to your general health.

4. Skincare. Skin problems are usually an indicator of an imbalance in your body. Care for areas with dry or irritated skin and think about what you can do to get back into balance.

Physiological habit cleansing

Physiological habit cleansing © Erik Back 2012

5. Nails and hair. Cut your nails and wash your hair. Both are already dead cells but they indicate what shape your body is in. Spend time analysing hair and nails and see if you can change something to get better balance.

6. Meditate. Your mind needs cleansing too.

These are just some of the basic habits, but you can supplement daily cleansing with treatments of reflexology, massage, sauna and Turkish bath etc.

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Good Habit 3: Delicious Diet

January 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment

diet food © by skampy

A good and healthy diet is vital. Your body needs fuel to work and the quality of that fuel depends on what you eat and drink. You have to make a habit of choosing quality food that will optimise your body. That means you have to find a diet that produce the energy you need to perform both physically and mentally.

For a start I have made a small list of don’ts and dos that you can easily implement after starting today.

Don’t

1. Don’t drink too much coffee. Enjoy a good and well-brewed cup of coffee in the morning and that’s it.

2. Don’t drink too much black tee.

physiological habit diet

Physiological habit - diet © Erik Back 2012

3. Don’t drink alcohol.

4. Avoid white sugar.

5. Avoid white flour.

6. Avoid white salt.

7. Avoid tobacco.

8. Avoid cola and soda water in general.

Do

1. Drink water.

2. Bake your own bread.

3. Eat wholemeal.

4. Eat vegetables.

5. Bake your food instead of frying.

6. Drink herbal tee.

7. Eat vitamins and minerals.

8. Eat five to six meals every day (Three large meals and three small meals).

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21 New Year’s Resolutions for Good Habits in 2012

December 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Happy New Year World (2010) © by Lel4nd

1. Go to bed between 10pm and 11pm

2. Wake up at 6.30am every day

3. Exercise at least 3 times every week

4. Join a sports club

5. Eat breakfast every morning

6. Have plenty of vegetables at lunch

7. Eat less meat

8. Drink more water

9. Clean up cluttered areas

10. Throw away things you do not need

11. Make a budget for all next year

12. Start putting money aside for something you always wanted to buy

13. Repair things that are not working

14. Take new challenges at work

15. Say: “I love you” to your partner every day

16. Give more hugs to family and friends

17. Find something to be grateful for every day

18. Challenge fear at least once a week

19. Say: “Today is going to be a fantastic day” every morning when you get up

20. Focus more on positive things

21. Meditate every day

What do you think New Year’s resolution #22 should be?

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