How do you develop habits you want to have?

[Roman25]

I want to develop the habit of reading books more often and learn how to write my own book(s). I do listen to audio-books commonly but I rarely have the courage to pick up many physical books. And I want to practice gratitude, get back into meditation, and things like that. But I already have habits that fill themselves that I am more interested in. But I don't want to be interested in anymore. If that makes sense..

[Joseph Maynor]

The best way to develop good habits is first to develop a compelling Vision for your life.  This Vision is where you want your life to be ideally in 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, etc.  A Vision is something that you know you want.  It's like someone says to you, "If you climb this mountain you can have the basket of gold bars at the top."  All of your good habits should fit this metaphor.  Your good  habits are like the price you need to pay to get those bars of gold, however you define them.  When your habits are aligned with your Vision that way, it's a lot easier to be motivated to do them.  If you knew you were running every morning for 30 minutes per day so that one day you will be able to reach that basket of gold bars, that would change your relationship to the habit of running every morning!  That's what aligning your good habits with your Vision does for you.  Vision is something that you develop by doing Big Picture Life Purpose Work.  Leo's Life Purpose Course (linked below) is a great way to get started on that.

Edited December 26, 2018 by Joseph Maynor

[Sahil Pandit]

@Roman Edouard Set up systems that make taking action easy.

Put a book you want to read next to your bed or put a chair in your room for meditating, etc.

[BjarkeT]

Do it everyday at the same time and track your progress at least for 66 days thats what i do. 

You can use loss aversion to hold you accountable. Tell someone that you owe them a specific amount of money if you fail. You should be twice as motivated to continue according to science. 

Edited December 26, 2018 by BjarkeT

[Roman25]

Thank you all for the tips. I'm feeling a lot better about giving the new habits a shot