It's been a while, but I'm still motivated to write. The last few days have been quite busy with personal matters, and I haven't been sure which topic to pick next. I have a list of subjects in my notes, but I'd like to spend more time researching most of them.
I'd like to share a thought on habits with you today. This might become a short series on my blog.
I think this is from James Clear's “Atomic Habits” and it helps me a lot to start and stick with some of my habits. The idea is to imagine what will happen if you stick with your habit, or if you skip your habitual action.
An easy example:
If I do the dishes now, I'll be in a good mood the next morning when I walk into the kitchen and see that everything is nice and clean.orIf I don't do the dishes now, the first thing I'll see when I walk into the kitchen the next morning will be a pile of stuff/work.
This simple thought often nudges me to just do the work right away. The second variant probably works better because avoiding the negative carries more weight than the positive gain. Search for 'negativity bias' if you want to learn more about it.
That's a wrap! Do you think this will work for you too?
I hope you enjoyed today's short piece, and I wish you a pleasant day.
After reading James Clear's Atomic Habits (I think I bought it during the pandemic), I have come to see habits as a major concept by which I shape my life. Occasionally, I establish or adapt habits in the hope that they will improve my life, the lives of my fellow human beings, and the world.
Let me tell you about three habits that spring to mind right now:
At the end of my workday, I write down some key points about what happened today, how I felt, and anything else on my mind regarding work.
I always tidy up immediately in my kitchen and living room. For example, I put the plates in the dishwasher straight away instead of leaving them on the work surface. I also use the time it takes for my coffee maker to brew me a cup to tidy up anything that's lying around.
I usually have a small handwritten notepad where I write down the current weekday and date, as well as things I don't want to forget. It's less of a to-do list and more a way of moving thoughts out of my brain. It's always on my desk in front of me, together with a nice pen – currently an 'eco-friendly plantable pen' – which I brought back from holiday last year.
What are your habits, and how do you think they influence your life?
Note: In my next post, I will talk briefly about why I am writing this blog and what you can expect from it.
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This was the first post on my new tiny blog. I hope you enjoyed reading it! On the topic of the above, I want to establish a writing habit here. Although I'm primarily doing this for myself, I'm open to any suggestions on how to make my posts more interesting for you.