Right now, I just started reading the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. I’m only 60 pages in, and he has some of the best advice for how to change your habits. I have read multiple books that describe how to become more productive, but none have gone as in depth as James Clear.
So far, my biggest take away is, it is better to make yourself improve by 1% a day vs. regressing 1%. I love thinking about that, because I can make literally the smallest change and it will help me in the end. If I keep gaining those little wins, then I could end up with more good habits than I have now.
I take a good habit and divide it into little chunks. That way, adding in a new habit doesn’t seem as daunting when you look at it, in smaller steps. Let’s use an example for someone who wants to be more fit. You can start out by going on a 5 minute walk one day for the first week, add 5 minutes every week for the next 10 weeks. You can add them on different days or the same day, but at the end of 10 weeks you are walking for 50 minutes! That is 275 minutes you would have walked in total at the end of those 10 weeks. That seems so much easier than telling yourself, you will walk 27.5 minutes every week for 10 weeks.
I like to be able to gradually push myself, because then it motivates me to push harder to get to my end goal. Plus, I don’t like doing the same thing over and over. When I go to the gym, I may do the same workout for 4-6 weeks at a time, but I will slowly add weight throughout those 4-6 weeks.
Another example, if you want to start waking up earlier to have more time for yourself or for any reason. Instead of trying to just jumping straight to the time you want, gradually do it. If you wake up at 6:30 am now, but want to wake up at 5:30 am, then do it in 5 minutes increments. It will take you 12 weeks to get there, but that means you get 45.5 hours in extra time by the end of the 12th week. Plus, you will be more likely to keep doing that habit, when you are consistent with it.
Go out there and make yourself 1% better everyday!
From Your Life Tutor
-Sam
Tutors of Life 