Are you trying to build a habit or new behavior?
Do you struggle with sticking with personal commitments?
For many of us, we can keep commitments and promises to others easily, but for ourselves we wain.
Here’s an idea that just came to mind. I call it, tag-along habits.
Let me know what you think, ok?
Building Tag-Along Habits
1. Take an activity you do naturally or very often.
2. Then take a desired activity that you struggle to do habitually. (Preferably these two should relate in some way.)
3. For the next 7 days, “tag along” the new/desired behavior with the other. Try to execute them right after each other.
4. Keep the new habit as simple as possible. Don’t think, plan or make it complex.
5. Do this daily or as often as possible for 7 days and see if it gets easier and builds momentum.
Make sense?
A Tag-Along Habit is Not Multitasking
Please don’t confuse this with multitasking.
We are not trying to merge two actions simultaneously like listening to an audio book while driving or working out.
Multitasking or killing two birds with one stone is different from what I’m explaining.
My purpose is building a new habit, not just getting things done.
The multitasking or the productivity mindset is wanting to finish or complete things. My “tag-along habit” building strategy is about lifestyle development. We’re building a behavior which we hope will remain long term
Personal Example: Making Content Creation/Sharing Habitual
One thing I do almost everyday and all day is learn. One thing I wish I did almost everyday is create and share new content. Preferably as a blog article, auido or video post. (Not just a tweet or instapic)
The best way to describe my hang up, is the time needed to create and edit since it doesn’t directly bring in $. However, I know the habit will increase my skills and the quality and exposure will eventually bring income.
So my goal for the next 7 days is to tag-along some content after I learn something, before I proceed to learn something new. This could be after ready a blog post, listening to a podcast, reading a book or magazine, etc.
I will also make sure to do it immediately–
And since I naturally learn/read often, I expect I should have at least 1 blog post a day for the next week.
We’ll see!
Personal Example #2: What About Undesirable Habits?
I not only want to build new habits, I also want to unlearn or stop doing certain behaviors.
Though I don’t have a solution, I still want to share with you in hopes of getting feedback or suggestions.
I want to make some changes to my diet.
Specifically, I want to completely stop eating sugar and gluten and reduce my carb intake to less than 100 grams a day or so.
The reasons for this are: (1) fat and weight-loss, (2) increased mental energy and (3) ketosis. ( ketosis is a state where your body gets it’s primary fuel from body fat, not carbs. Thus you’re burning fat all the time.)
So this health goal, of course doesn’t have an end. I’m not trying to get a particular weight, rather its a lifestyle shift that I desire to make.
In the short term there are weight and body composition improvements but, from what I’ve heard, the full benefits start after a month or two and can continue after many months.
So this really does a major change, not just a week or two of discipline.
So how can I break addictions to cookies and breaded burgers??
What could be a tag-along habit that relates to daily eating more healthy?
How do you reject the short-term pleasure for a long-term desire?
What do you think?
Create a Great Day! -AC