As you probably know by now, I’ve spent the past year creating a REAL, PHYSICAL thing – The Priorities Method Journal. In the process, alongside multiple near-breakdowns, I’ve discovered a few things – ironically (or not?) – related to priorities. Building a business of this kind has been a steep learning curve, to say the least.
Today I’d like to share with you the most important one. This is the tool that helped me take the journal from a lofty idea in my head to something that I can now hold in my hands. (And soon you’ll be able to too! Next week, Nov 8th!)
Before I crack on, a huge THANK YOU to everyone that has pre-ordered the journal already. I’m so grateful, and so excited for you to try it.
Habits.
A subject that comes up in coaching sessions, and January magazine features, over and over again.
The thing is, it’s easy to think up a bunch of habits that we want for our lives. Ones that we know would make us ‘healthier’, maybe even ‘happier’. Think now – what would you like to do more of? What would make your life better?
I’m sure you have a good idea. It probably involves a bit more movement, sleep, or vegetables. All standard, wellness stuff, which are standard for the simple reason that they help.
Habits = easy to think up, much harder to keep up.
We can all do a bit of yoga or drink more water for a week or so, but at some point, most people struggle to turn that habit into something that sticks. Something that becomes part of their identity and daily routine.
I am most people.
I struggle to remember to drink water (the simplest of basic, human needs), sometimes I forget to meditate (the best way I’ve found to keep a solid grip on my mental health) and I also don’t find it easy to stick to a ‘lofty’ project – creating and publishing a journal – when I have lots of more pressing non-lofty things to do.
So, to make sure I do the stuff I need to do – drink water, meditate, publish the journal – I use the least sexy sounding coaching tool there is: a habit tracker.
A habit tracker really does what it says on the tin. It’s the practice of jotting down a few habits that you know positively impact your life, and then tracking yourself to make sure you actually do them throughout the week. You simply tick as you go – that little action of ticking gives you a good dopamine hit FYI, which will encourage you to search it out again the next day. It’s an accountability buddy, with you as the buddy.
There’s a habit tracker in the journal, but I thought I’d create one here as well for you to download and try out.
When it comes to creating new habits, the best approach is for them to be achievable and manageable: a large glass of water upon waking, five minutes of morning meditation, a daily short walk, ten minutes of reading. You can build up the length or intensity of these habits over time if you like, but start small and you have the best chance of sticking with them. Whatever you do, please don’t get dissuaded if you miss a few days or weeks – just start again anytime.
On my habit tracker this week is:
Drink 6 glasses water everyday
45 min walk at least 3 x week
Meditation 10 min everyday
When I was creating the journal, I also had ‘30 mins on journal’ on there. Some days that meant writing the journal text itself, on others it meant chasing the printer or building out the website. I combined the habit tracker with one of my other favourite productivity tools - Eating the frog – and I know the combination of those two is a large part of how the journal went from an idea to a reality.
What habits do you struggle to stick with? Let me know if the tracker helps, I’d love to know.