Atomic Habits
Happy Sunday everyone and for most, I hope your long weekend is off to a great start! For those who are actively participated in the Six Weeks to Summer Challenge, the last two weeks we’ve gone over some steps toward achieving your goals and getting back on track. For week one, we set an intention on what we wanted to accomplish over the six-week period and for week two, we addressed system changes that we need to make. I’m a big systems guy. I love routines, structure and while I may be a bit rigid, it’s how I operate at my best. If we don’t have systems in our lives, we don’t accomplish things, at least not as effectively and surely not as efficiently as we could. Today, I wanted to share with you a recent book that I listened to called “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. Talk about a life-changing book. It immediately vaults near the top of my must-read books and I highly recommend it to you. There were a few things that resonated with me and I wanted to share: 1. Stop thinking all or nothing This is a set-up for failure and you see it all of the time, especially in January. You are making a drastic life change but you don’t allow yourself any leeway. Things are not going to be easy and life does not operate linearly. There are going to be bumps in the road and you will have an off day here and there. If you think all of nothing, then all “non-perfect” days are going to be a failure, which is not a recipe for success. One slip-up is an accident, but two slip-ups are the start of a new habit. Just get back at it and do your best.
2. Boredom is not a bad thing The difference between a professional and amateur is putting up with boredom. Doing the same thing every day can be boring but if you’re constantly working on making your systems operate better, you are a professional. Take a pro basketball player for example. They put up thousands of shots each week, run the same plays over and over again in practice and while it may seem boring, they are making sure the habit sticks and working on improving every day. Amateurs try things for a short period of time, get bored and go to the next shiny object. If you only do the work it requires when you feel like it or when it is convenient, you will never reach your goals. Pros stick with a schedule and put up with boredom. You are a pro!
3. Do something This is showing up every day. There are going to be off days. I have them. You have them. The best thing you can do is show up though. Lost days hurt more than successful days help you. Not having a good day and missed meal prepping? Do ONE thing that can help. Pack a lunch, make a menu or put together snacks for the week. Concentrate on doing just one thing so not all is lost. Clear says that lost days hurt us more than successful days help us. The best in the world show up every day no matter what the circumstances. He uses the specific example in his book of 50 percent growth on $100 brings your total to $150. However, it only takes a 33 percent loss to bring it back down to $100. Just do something and show up every day.
I hope those takeaways help you and I’m confident you can at least implement one of these into your life immediately.
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