12 Small Things You Can Do to Create New Ruts

Last night at The Conversation (our mid-week adult Bible study) we talked about how to practically stop the bad habits that are destroying our lives. Those bad habits may be: bitterness, lack of exercise, poor eating, viewing pornography, or overspending (to name a few). While many people think the answer is pure willpower, modern neuroscience shows that to be false.

In a fascinating article, John Ortberg applies modern science to spiritual discipleship, saying “Most of the time, a change of behavior requires the acquisition of new habits. Willpower and conscious decision have very little power over what we do.” The way our brains our wired, our habits create “ruts” in our neural pathways. Call it muscle memory. Once an action becomes a habit, it’s a rut in your mind that’s very hard to get out of. Practically speaking, the only way to change is to create new ruts, new habits. That’s how our brains work.

With that, I shared a few small habits we can begin that can help us create new ruts in our life.

12 Small Things You Can Do to Create New Ruts

1. Set your alarm 20 minutes earlier. (get more accomplished).
2. Lay out exercise clothes before you go to sleep. (get more exercise).
3. Have a curfew and stick to it. (nothing productive happens after 9 pm).
4. Take the television out of your bedroom. (robs too much sleep).
5. Cancel cable/satellite television. (television is pure distraction, doesn’t make you better).
6. Put your phone in a kitchen drawer when you come home. (be present with your family).
7. Make the Bible the first and last thing you read each day. (make your mind dwell on Word).
8. Listen to the Bible on YouVersion during your commute. (use quiet moments to dwell on Word).
9. Keep a journal. (helps you reassess. Gives you perspective. Forces you to slow down and evaluate where you are).
10. Buy a stack of thank you notes and leave them out as a reminder to write at least one a week. (habit of thankfulness)
11. Write out a budget and keep track of every dollar you spend each month. (fiscal responsibility).
12. Join a small group. (relational community).

QUESTION: What other habits would you add?