Today, pick a habit that you’d like to eliminate from your life. Think about the steps you’ll take to get rid of that negative habit, as well as hot to keep yourself accountable.
Ahhh, the old New Year’s Resolution when it’s not new years.
For this one, I think I’d like to cut down on procrastination. I have an awful habit of putting very important things off until either the last-minute, or until way past the due date. I’ve paid more in late fees than the average Blockbuster member.
Signing on to the strenuous Life program (for the second time) is a big step in the right direction. A major part of the program right out the gate are activities that must be done in a timely manner. I’ve been down this road before, and the thing I’m changing up on this run is the use of scheduled reminders. It’s harder to say “Oh my, I forgot to work out!” when you have an electronic reminder to tell you to hit the half-rack.
Using an electric reminder sets you up for a different kind of problem set on down the line though. For one, taken to one sort of logical conclusion, you kind of become a marionette to an electronic device. Second, it doesn’t take much to just blow off the elaborate reminder system you’ve set up.
To help ease this reality a bit, I’m trying a couple of different approaches. I’m making an internal resolution (part of Franklin’s daily virtues) to myself to see this out. I’m making a serious promise to myself to complete what I’ve started. Also, I’m attacking some of the low hanging fruit first. This time, in addition to the weekly agons and check ins, I’m hitting the badges pretty hard. The approach I’m taking to badge work is, knock out a few of those that require a daily, short-term committment. Hence, journaling. The journaling challenge asks for a 31-day initial committment, and eight weeks of weekly journaling to complete. Shorter term, clearly defined, and easily fits the electrionic reminder strategy.
Penmanship- one of the shortest timewise to complete. Fifteen days of daily handwriting practice, and transcribing a few poems- easy-peasy.
Franklin’s daily virtue entries- read the AoM entries on virtue, and fill in the dots for thirteen weeks. A little longer window than the penmanship badge, but just as easy to complete.
My hope/strategy with the above efforts is that with the electronic reminders, I’ll form something like a daily habit of chipping away at larger projects, seeing them through completion. It’s a lot of daily bites that are more than managable, all of which lead to specific goals. With some luck, the quick attainment of some fairly innocuous badges will motivate me to make the daily routine a permanent fixture in my life. A concurrent stategy is choosing badge work that builds up to more badges. Thinking about vitrue daily may just make some of those virtuous habits permanent. Penmanship leads naturally to the letter writing badge work.
The crucial thing though is the establishment of a permanent daily-habit routine to help me knock out some of the larger, more important, real-life goals.
Wish me luck, Nina!
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