The Hack For Better Habits

I speak about habits in one of my first podcast episodes. They’re something we often find our lives revolving around. Brushing our teeth, walking the dog, taking that particular time out on a Sunday afternoon to read the paper…

And here’s the big, fat takeaway of all my time reading books on habits, listening to experts talk about habits, and understanding my own habits, both good and bad:

The choices you make every day are either for you or against you.

A habit I wanted to pick up: reading more.

So I started. Just a chapter (sometimes not even) on a morning, or whenever I could fit it in.

And suddenly, even though I’m only reading a few pages a day, I’m onto my second book.

Just because it’s only a couple of pages at a time, doesn’t mean you’re not going to get through the entire book.

Just because you’re only saving a couple of quid today, doesn’t mean you’re not going to be a millionaire someday.

Just because you’re only doing a really imperfect 10-minute yoga class, doesn’t mean it’s not going to change your entire body in a few months.

Like water carving its way through rock, these massive changes take repeated tiny actions.

What little – teeny weeny – choices can you make today for future wins?

Maybe yoga? This morning yoga class is one of the recent member favourites (and it’s only 16 minutes).

PS. If you want to read more about hacking your habits, I always recommend the brilliant The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.