December 30, 2020
1 Leadership Thought
It's a timeless classic. We renew fitness commitments, slap numbers on how many books we want to read, pick poetic words that will define the year, and set other goals that are forgotten by the time February rolls around.
New Year's resolutions are always made with the best of intentions, so why do so many remain unfulfilled?
The problem isn't that people are being too ambitious — it's actually that we're not thinking large enough.
What we really need is to think about long-term habits instead of short-term goals.
Goals have an expiration date. Habits continue to build, even to future generations.
Goals force you to perform for a period of time. Habits help you to practice what you need for life. (Share this on Twitter)
Consider what "healthy" will mean to you (physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, relationally, purposefully, etc.) years, or even decades, from now and start making sustainable changes that will build towards that vision.
Here are 3 habits to consider beginning this year:
Stop looking at your phone first thing in the morning: Starting your day by scrolling through your phone usually ends in falling behind and struggling through the day. Use an actual alarm clock, put your phone in a different room, and build momentum for your day with something more useful.
Reserve regular time for self-reflection: Nobody starts their year hoping it's defined by "busy", but it happens anyway. Change that by blocking out self-reflection time in your calendar. If 1 hour daily is too hard, start with 15-30 minutes weekly. Record your self-reflections so you can keep making the right tweaks to continue on the right trajectory.
Prepare for your communications: Noise fills our lives and often makes communication more confusing than clarifying. Make a habit of editing your words for an email, phone call, or meeting before hitting send or walking in the room. Practice making it clear and concise, then double-check it. Those minutes of preparation can save you hours spent clarifying misunderstandings.
1 Resource
James Clear on willpower:
"Willpower isn't something you have or something you lack. It rises and falls. And while it's impossible to maximize your willpower for every moment of every day, it is possible to make a few changes to your day and your routine so that you can get the most of your decisions and make consistent progress on the things that are important to you."
Source: How Willpower Works: How to Avoid Bad Decisions
1 Question
What are your bad habits costing you? What will you gain by starting good habits instead?