Unlocking the Secret to Lasting Habits: Make This Year Different
Welcome to 2024! With the New Year, people frequently ask, ‘What goals can I aspire to and what changes can I make in the next 12 months?' So often people step into January armed with resolutions, yet often by February, they're a distant memory. Resolutions are essentially commitments for new habits.. So, what’s the secret to making new habits stick?
A Personal Journey: Transforming Task Management
Over the past six months, I've reshaped my approach to task management, a struggle since my school days. My method? Reviewing my overall to-do list, identifying priorities and deadlines and then breaking these to-dos into manageable, bite-sized tasks. This method isn’t particularly novel, but the process has become the personal habit that sticks.
Every Monday morning, the first 30 minutes are sacred - it's when I plan my week using the Notes app on my phone, which syncs with my computer for seamless access (thank you Apple!). I assign each task to a specific day of the week, taking into account my schedule and the length of each task. Then, as the day progresses and I complete a task, I ceremoniously strike through it on my phone.
This process was inspired by James Clear, author and expert on habits, and his Four Laws of Behavioral Change: Make it Obvious, Make it Attractive, Make it Easy, and Make it Satisfying. These laws aren’t just theoretical; they're practical and can be applied to everyday life. Here’s how I put his framework into action:
1) Cue: Making It Obvious
The first law, 'Make it Obvious,' is about setting clear cues for your habits. For me, the cue is my calendar notification every Monday morning. It's a prompt that signals it's time to map out my week. This simple trigger has turned a once sporadic practice into a regular habit and the blocked-off time keeps me from being pulled away by a meeting.
2) Craving: Making It Attractive
The second law, 'Make it Attractive,' is about making the habit appealing. For me, it's the simplicity that's key. Setting up my tasks in a clear, uncluttered list provides a sense of calm and control. This straightforward approach makes the process less daunting and more inviting, turning a routine task into a satisfying practice.
3) Response: Making It Easy
The third law, 'Make it Easy,' is about making the process or space uncomplicated. Using a familiar and accessible tool like the Notes app has been crucial. It’s always at my fingertips, whether I’m on my phone or my computer. This accessibility means I can check things off the list both sitting at my desk or in a waiting room, making it far easier to get into the habit getting sh*t done.
4) Reward: Making It Satisfying
Finally, 'Make it Satisfying' focuses on immediate rewards. For me, the satisfaction comes from striking through each completed task. Watching the list of strikethrough tasks grow by the end of the week and having a backlog of months of accomplished tasks is not just satisfying; it’s a visual representation of my productivity and progress. For someone who has chronically struggled with productivity, this has empowered me and changed my mindset from, “I suck at this,” to “Wow, look at all I have done!”
The Path to Effective Habit Formation
Incorporating Clear's laws into my routine has been a game-changer. It’s shown me that habit formation is less about willpower and more about strategy. By setting the right cues, making the process enjoyable, reducing complexity and rewarding yourself, you create a framework where habits come naturally.
Seizing the New Year with Effective Habits
As we embrace the New Year, it's the perfect time to rethink our approach to habit formation. By applying Clear's Four Laws of Behavior Change, we can transform our aspirations into tangible realities. So, let's make this year different – one where our resolutions turn into routines and our habits lead to fulfillment.