Starting now, starting little, and basically simply starting, in general, is the key to making a habit stay. Here are some of my tried-and-true micro-habits for feeling more organised and in control in a chaotic environment.
Examine your bank account
Make a point of checking in on all of your accounts at least once a day. That may appear to be a lot, and it is. What matters is that you remain conscious of what you have and where it is heading. Getting a better handle on your money begins with maintaining a consistent conceptual layout of your accounts.
Add another
Add another veggie to your dinner dish. Every day, drink one additional glass of water. Learn one more Arabic phrase. Once those one mores have become a part of your routine, consider adding one more—you know where this is heading.
Be more receptive
If you receive a text message, respond as soon as you see it. Respond to critical emails as frequently as you are able. This will prevent you from having a backlog of work that has to be addressed.
Reduce your reactivity
Before responding to or putting your energy into anything that immediately enrages or bothers you, question it. Determine where it comes from and who your reaction to it would serve. Learning to take that micro-pause between a stimulus and your response can alter your perspective on everything.
Meet your basic requirements
You are not a machine, but your body and life do require you to feed it in particular ways in order to keep it functioning. When you’re hungry, eat. When you’re exhausted, go to bed. Trying to downplay the significance of your most fundamental needs for survival does not imply that you are busy and important; rather, it indicates that you are ignorant and setting yourself up for a breakdown or burnout.
When you want to do anything, take action
Mel Robbins discusses in her book The 5 Second Rule that the few seconds between having a fantastic idea and your brain interfering are a big part of what keeps individuals back. She believes that in order to truly move your life ahead, you must act on your thoughts before convincing yourself not to.
When you don’t, take action
At the same time, it’s critical to understand that just because you don’t feel like doing something doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Your emotions have no bearing on your skills.
