Habits
Why is it important to change bad habits into good habits?
One word: Productivity
Our bad habits tend to take what we want to accomplish and justify, talk us out of or simply procrastinate us into never getting what we want. A simple shift in your habits will literally launch you toward the good that you desire. Let’s go over some general bad habits and some suggestions on what you can replace them with.
Now, before we go into that list, first you need to understand that just merely stopping a bad habit isn’t good enough. You need to replace it with a good habit. Replacing or switching the action of habits eliminates the non-productive habit; never to rear its ugly head again. If you fail to replace a non-productive habit with a productive one, you will have an internal battle that will only create physical and mental destruction.
Non-Productive habit:
Sleeping – is non-productive. Yes we all need five to eight hours of sleep but that’s it! Any sleep beyond 8 hours is non-productive. Do you take naps? Fall in and out of slumber when watching TV? Or crash out after a big meal? Does a certain chair, couch or sunny window pull you in like gallactical forces beyond your control? Here are some things you can do to win the battle.
- Take any type of sitting apparatus away from your favorite sunny window.
- Move that comfy chair into the garage.
- Shut your bedroom door and place a sign on it “Do not open until 10:00pm.”
- Every time you feel the pulling force to go and close your eyes for a few minutes, immediately do something physical in the area you want to improve. An author once wrote “Get up sluggard, there will be plenty of time for rest in the grave”.
Busywork – is non-productive. When you know you need to tackle a project, taking the path of least resistance is appealing – no doubt about it. Doing little odds and ends makes you feel like you are accomplishing a lot, when truthfully you never get to, the work that gives you momentum/satisfaction. Before you go to bed, write down the one thing that you want to achieve tomorrow.
Example – 1. Complete year-end report and turn it in by 3:00pm.
Re-arranging your desk and re-filing reports is busywork. Get the complete facts and data and finish your report, turn it in today no later than 3:00pm! Stay focused – no distractions. Talking instead of Listening – is non-productive. How can you learn anything or get any new ideas or actions to take if you’re listening to yourself talk? If you need to; mentally or physically put tape over your lips.
1. Be still and listen intently to the person talking to you find one thing they say interesting.
2. Engage in the conversation 20% of the time, ask them a question to further your knowledge on what they said that was interesting to you, then listen again.
3. Seek out one person a day (spouse, co-worker, boss or your five year old) for a stimulating conversation to practice your listening skills.
Assignment for today:
Think about one non-productive habit you have. If you can’t think of one ask friends and family which one they think you can improve. Then, what productive habit are you going to replace it with, over the next 30 days? Stay focused; be aware of what you’re doing over the next 30 days. Remember it’s ultimately, your choices that decide which habit you will perform. Productive? Or non-productive? If it takes you longer than 30 days to switch habits, keep working on it until a new habit is formed. Don’t give up! The character ‘Dory’ in the movie “Finding Nemo” said it best. “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming”. Any person that has kept their eye on the end result, has succeeded in producing that result – period.
After you are successful in the “Habit Switch” – pick another non-productive habit to tackle and get started on it right away, no need to dilly dally. Here is a list of more non-productive habits. Make your own list and, for the next 30 days work on just ONE.
- Never returning phone calls on time, or not at all.
- Always being fashionably late.
- Poor communication.
- Lake of clarity for the good that you desire.
- Not allowing of travel time between appointments.
- Not doing paperwork quickly and efficiently.
- Touching the mail more than once.
- Letting bills to go unpaid, resulting in interest penalties or late fees.
- Forgetting someone’s name thirty seconds (or less) after being introduced.
- Hitting the snooze alarm several times.
- Working long days with no exercise or regular breaks.
- Not spending enough time with your children.
- Having a fast-food meal program 3 or more times per week.
- Leaving home without hugging your wife, husband, children and/or dog.
- Taking work home with you.
- Socializing too much on the telephone.
- Not following through with your promises, with other people’s requests.
- Not taking enough time off for fun and family – guilt free.
- Having your cell phone on all the time.
- Answering the telephone during family time.
- Sweating the small stuff you need to let go of.
- Procrastinating on everything from filing taxes to cleaning out your garage.
You have the power! Choose to be different.
“I never could have done without the habits of punctuality, order and diligence… The determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time.” – Charles Dickens