Pandemic has pushed all of us to rethink our way of life. While most of us took the initial days of lockdown as a 'much-needed' break, things changed as we realized the lifestyle is going down the drain!
If something is not done immediately, the years of habits we built, systems that we developed, and way of life will go for a toss. (Un)fortunately, the Indian education system did not make us atmanirbhar when it comes to self-learning. However, what it did teach us was how to learn?
In this quest, I took it as an opportunity to develop long-term habits. One of the good sources in this journey was Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Sharing some of my notes from this book:
1. Habits create Identity.
Want to build lasting habits? First create a new identity.
Small example: want to wake up early?
Do not say "I am trying to wake up early" but tell everyone around you:
"I wake up early"
"I sleep by (say) 2230 hours"
"I love how sunrise makes me feel"
Another example: Want to quit smoking? Start saying "I do not smoke" over "I am trying to quit"
Changing mindset is a muscle one can easily train by practising positive affirmations.
2. Small changes (but) consistently compound to huge results.
This graphic is powerful enough to give an idea!
3. Systems>Goals
To reach a goal, you need to have a system in place.
Want to work on your side project but feel the guilt of not keeping up?
System: Give a cent to your main project/job/college aka day job. Once you have that system in place, your mind will eventually keep you pepped up to go back home to that night <<job>>
4. Reward positive habits
Our brain detects rewards well and luckily desire is a human craving.
A small example: I wanted to quit using my phone. I started switching it off before sleeping. I reward my brain with quick surfing for a few minutes after breakfast.
(and then turn it off again to repeat the same cycle later in the evening)
5. Delay gratification
Discipline>Distraction
Moderate the reward. Using a phone for targeted minutes as rewards often did not work for me. Instead, I created a checklist.
SMS>Check News>Clear E-mails>Switch off
How did this help?
Say, I kept 10 minutes as reward and got done with usage in 7. Brain pushes to use those 3 minutes too. Next moment, it was 30 before I even realized.
Moderating this reward in form of checklist helped me put phone down at times in 5 minutes and 13 in others. Easy-Peasy!
6. Replace Negative Habits
Stress and/or Boredom: 2 reasons to cause negative habits.
Back to giving up on phone: I replaced desire to pick up phone with picking up printouts of some articles or books. It is tough to Phase out a bad habit. Thus, Phase Down>Phase out
7. Environment is the key
Who you surround yourself with, who do you talk to in a day, what do you consume (food + content), etc all add up to be your environment. Our behavior is shaped by this environment.
Best? It takes just one decision to drastically (or incrementally) change your environment. Control it before it controls you!
8. Accountability and Companionship
Unable to sleep on time or read regularly? [or any other thing you want to do]
Look out for clubs or communities in your city (or online) of people who share a similar mindset or are working to achieve a similar goal. Getting a company is always a win!
9. Basics>Complex
Most fancy people are often shallow in terms of mental/financial/physical wealth. Focus on basics. eg: investing + saving>spending (unless it is essential to make a transaction)
PS: I have video reviewed 100+ books in #1MinuteBookReviews. Checkout the playlist if you are looking out for recommendations! :)
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