October 4, 2021
Keep It Simple
Some of you may feel as if school has been in session forever. For others, school may only have been underway for the better part of three weeks. In our household, we’re just establishing our routines—and still feeling the slight panic of having to pack a lunch.
In September, my youngest children—twin boys, in 8th grade—had two guidance classes on the importance of good homework habits. “The grass grows back quickly,” one of my sons reported to me in the car after one of these classes. I’ll have to steal that analogy, I thought.
This teacher sent an email recently, offering habit advice that seems valuable for thinking about spiritual habits. For keeping track of assignments, she suggests:
1. Pick a simple system.
2. Keep your agenda at the corner of your desk for each class as a reminder to use it.
3. Start creating a habit of using it at the same time each day. The more you stick to the habit, the easier and more natural it gets.
It’s seems there’s a lot to learn here, if we’re struggling to sustain habits of faith (Bible reading, prayer, silence, solitude, community, fasting, service).
1. First, aim for something modest, something easy to keep track of. The fewer bells and whistles, the better. You honestly don’t need that cool prayer app a friend just told you about. Maybe it’s the Lord’s Prayer as soon as you wake up. Maybe it’s a psalm at lunchtime or over dinner with the family. Maybe it’s one book of the Bible at a time, reading every day as slowly as it takes to absorb the words.
What simple habit could you start today?
2. Second, find a way to cue this habit every day. That’s a big part of habit formation according to Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit. You need a reminder of your intention (i.e. the agenda on the corner of the desk). Just like you might set out your running shoes at night to remind you to exercise in the morning, so you might put your Bible or devotional book beside the coffee pot. Maybe you’ll set a reminder on your phone to pray at a certain time.
What cues can remind you of your intention to form good spiritual habits?
3. Third, aim for small, incremental change. Don’t try to overhaul your spiritual life overnight. Practice your small, simple habit every day with as much regularity as possible. Maybe you’ll even develop a system of habit tracking, which experts also say is an important element for successful habit formation. It could be as simple as a checkmark on the calendar. Again, don’t get fancy!
What small habit will you regularly practice, and how will you keep track of your progress?
Here’s another piece of advice for those of you who have, in the past, had good spiritual habits but find yourself currently struggling. In his book, 8 Habits for Growth, Darryl Dash says that a little bit of self-reflection can help. Ask yourself: what’s working right now, and why? What’s not working, and why not? You’ve got to capture the details, Darryl says.
“What practices, people, times of day, and places are life-giving and nourish your relationship with God? What practices, people, times of day, and places move you away from your relationship with God?”
“Adapt, adjust, repeat, and look for changes, no matter how small. What works even a little? What can you do to do a little more a little better?”
Darryl Dash’s book is a great primer on simple, spiritual habits. (He has another book, How to Grow, which is equally good.) Justin Whitmel Earley’s book, The Common Rule, is another book I’d recommend on spiritual habits. You could also consider Richard Foster’s classic, Celebration of Discipline. And sure, if you want to get into the habit of regular Bible reading, why not my own A Habit Called Faith?
There’s something to everyday faithfulness. I tell that to my kids, every time they unload the dishwasher.
Jen