How To Succeed The EASY Way… Become An UNDER-Achiever!
In our effort to become better persons, we sometimes push too hard and it backfires on us. (Remember the Tortoise and the Hare?)
Here are a few tips for doing it the EASY way…
Strategy 1 – Take advantage of your built-in “autopilot” feature.
A habit is an action or series of actions that we perform in a SUBCONSCIOUS manner. We don’t have to consciously think about doing these things, they just seem to happen on their own.
That’s because we all run on autopilot…
Have you ever driven home or to work and then had no recollection of the ride? Or have you taken the wrong exit off a freeway because it’s the one you usually take, when in fact you had intended to keep on to another exit? Our minds become conditioned to doing things in a certain way, simply because we have done them over and over again in that exact way.
This can be a good thing…
Why? Because it makes much of our daily routine somewhat effortless. Imagine having to focus intently on every little thing you did… like washing dishes or taking out the garbage. Without “autopilot” we’d be overwhelmed from having to concentrate on everything we do.
Learning to add good habits to out list of “automatic” functions is the key to getting more done.
Strategy 2 – Use Your Normal “Rhythm” To Your Advantage
How long does it take to establish a new habit? Opinions vary from 21… to 30 days. But because we all live in monthly cycles, a good rule of thumb might be to give a new habit 30 days to become firmly entrenched.
Adding One New Habit A Month Over A Years’ Time Can Transform Anyone!
Strategy 3 – Do What It Takes To Create An Emotional “Buy In”
It doesn’t matter what goal you’ve set for yourself, you won’t succeed if you don’t buy into it mentally… and emotionally. And in order to do that, you’ll have to “do the math” on the subject.
Ask yourself, “What will happen if I continue as I am?”
Versus:
“What will the benefits be if I succeed in adding this new habit into my life”… and “What will it cost me to change?”
The very process will make you a better person…
The answers may not be right in front of you, but they’re out there. And probably aren’t hard to get.
The bottom line, is that in the process of digging into the subject, you’ll become more aware of the issues… and more self-aware, concerning the long term importance of this goal
Simple Keys To Success In This Area…
Find a “Trigger” word (or phrase)…
Come up with a word or short phrase that expresses this benefit for you. Repeat that word when you need some extra motivation. A word works better than a sentence. For example, I can say to myself: “I will be organized, and I will have more time for important projects. I will be more focused. I will have a clear mind.”
It all sounds good, but my subconscious says: “No, you won’t, so why bother?”
On the other hand, if I just use brief “trigger” words “focus and clarity,” or… “more energy” etc… I have a better chance of avoiding subconscious sabotage.
Enlist outside support…
Strengthen your commitment by writing it down and putting it up somewhere in a high-traffic area of your home or office. You can also exhibit it on your calendar or learning board. Tell your family and friends about your plan. We have a higher sense of obligation when we publicly acknowledge our commitments.
Try it for a WEEK…
The thought of committing to anything for a lifetime is pretty intimidating. Instead of – “I’m going to walk an hour a day for the rest of my live!” Why not – “I’m going to walk 10 minutes a day for the next 7 days and see how it goes… and if I like it, I’ll do 15 minutes a day for the next 7 days.”
… etc.
Strategy 4 – When Establishing Your New Exercise Regemin, Use The “3X10” Method
As busy as we all are, it’s easy to use the excuse “I’m too busy to exercise!” I’ve used it myself on more than one occasion. It can be difficult to find a solid 30 minutes for a good aerobic workout.
But what if you could not only get by, but actually get a better workout in 10 minutes?
According to a Stanford University research study, three 10 minute workout sessions (morning, lunch and evening) produced the same benefit as a solid 30 minute workout at one time.
The benefits of increased peak oxygen uptake, lower heart rate and weight loss were virtually the same in both test groups. The reason it might improve your benefit is in the 1 time per day group, there was only one cool down – where heart rate stayed elevated for 1/2 hour after the exercise. However the people who exercised 3 times got 3 cool-downs. (Taken from The American Journal of Cardiology 1990.)
Strategy 5 – Never Say Never!
Let’s face it… life happens! No matter how firm your commitment to your personal goals. Other peoples’ needs sometimes have to take the front seat. Although DAILY performance of your goal/commitment is important, it’s the OVERALL PATTERN that’s CRITICAL.
When you’re forced out of your daily pattern, don’t get overly bent out of shape about it. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life!
Cheryl
