Usually, it is because we want the immediate gratification of our base instincts and desires. Many times we act without thinking, overcome by emotion, and irrationally lead by our weaknesses rather than our strengths.<\/p>\n
The problem is that when we indulge in these bad habits, they seem to multiply over time, and the results are a disaster. Some bad habits are so small that we think them inconsequential and not necessary. The truth is that even the slightest change in our daily routines can change the outcomes dramatically.<\/p>\n
Small habits have a way to grow until they are tough to change and can take us far away from our desired goals. They become big trees that are extremely difficult to uproot.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, consider these five steps for getting started:<\/p>\n
Initiate a \u2018ridiculously small\u2019 micro habit<\/strong><\/h2>\nIt usually takes my workshop participants between three and eight tries before they come up with something sufficiently small enough to be considered a micro habit. When I tell them reading for an hour each night is too large, they then change to reading for 45 minutes, then 30 minutes, and so on. Finally, I tell them, \u201cYou will know you\u2019ve truly reached the level of a micro habit, when you say, \u2018That\u2019s so ridiculously small, it\u2019s not worth doing\u2019\u201d \u2014 in this case reading only one paragraph each night. In our coaching groups, participants only get credit for achieving the minimum bar, not going beyond it. Aim for small.<\/p>\n
Repeat Repeat Repeat<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe benefit of micro habits is that you should be able to perform it with minimal effort every day. It\u2019s important to execute on a new ritual daily so it becomes second nature, and if it\u2019s small enough, you won\u2019t be as tempted to defer your task from one day to the next. However, no matter the size of the task, it\u2019s easy to get distracted, make excuses, or forget. Perform your new action at the same time as (or right before) an action you do without thinking. Need to read a paragraph each night? You can do that while brushing your teeth.<\/p>\n
Follow your progress closely<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs the saying goes, \u201cWhat gets measured, gets done.\u201d Again, if your measurement process is elaborate, you\u2019re less likely to complete it. Write down the desired action and under each date, simply list a \u2018Y\u2019 or \u2018N\u2019 to indicate if you completed the task. People discover surprising benefits to the Yes List, including detecting patterns when they\u2019re likely to advance or regress in their efforts.<\/p>\n
Maintain the rhythm <\/strong><\/h2>\nIt\u2019s hard to think small to begin with; it\u2019s even harder to stay small. For example, let\u2019s say Jake\u2019s micro habit was to do 2 push-ups a day. After earning 10 Y\u2019s in a row on his Yes List, Jake was eager to do more. For the next two days, he did five push-ups, soon pushing up the number to 10 and then adding a 20-minute workout after. The sad result? Within two months, Jake would give up exercising due to the simple fact that he had enlarged his goals unrealistically fast. You have to stick with your original micro habit long enough when you feel bored with it for at least 2 weeks in a row. Then increase it only by about 10%.<\/p>\n
Accountability is key<\/strong><\/h2>\nIt might sound strange to enlist a partner to monitor your daily reading of one paragraph or doing two push-ups. But having people support you and hold you accountable can cement new behaviours, and it helps them in return. The leadership program mentioned above has a peer group meeting every other week, and participants send a report of their micro habits weekly, updating the group on progress by stating how many days of the week they performed it. When you want to change behaviour, jumping headlong into a major goal with both feet is often a waste of time. Instead, make tiny, incremental adjustments until they are part of your muscle memory. By starting small, you can attain big results.<\/p>\n\n\n
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There is a real value in providing companies with the tools to carry out regular organisational assessments and\u00a0this is where Great People Inside <\/a>comes to your aid. Our online platform offers the best solutions and tools for your company to thrive in every type of industry and any possible situation your organisation may find itself. In terms of lowering your employee turnover rates, we recommend our GR8 Full Spectrum <\/a>assessment for hiring and 360\u00b0 Survey<\/a> for retention. Finding the right talent, the best fit for the job and your organisation can be a very challenging task. It requires deep knowledge of your own organisation’s culture and a keen understanding of the candidate\u2019s personality, strengths, interests, work style and other characteristics. Our technology and solutions will do the work for you, helping you find employees who can flourish and reach the highest performance required to constantly bring your company forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The benefit of micro habits is that you should be able to perform it with minimal effort every day. It\u2019s important to execute on a new ritual daily so it becomes second nature, and if it\u2019s small enough, you won\u2019t be as tempted to defer your task from one day to the next. However, no matter the size of the task, it\u2019s easy to get distracted, make excuses, or forget. Perform your new action at the same time as (or right before) an action you do without thinking. Need to read a paragraph each night? You can do that while brushing your teeth.<\/p>\n
Follow your progress closely<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs the saying goes, \u201cWhat gets measured, gets done.\u201d Again, if your measurement process is elaborate, you\u2019re less likely to complete it. Write down the desired action and under each date, simply list a \u2018Y\u2019 or \u2018N\u2019 to indicate if you completed the task. People discover surprising benefits to the Yes List, including detecting patterns when they\u2019re likely to advance or regress in their efforts.<\/p>\n
Maintain the rhythm <\/strong><\/h2>\nIt\u2019s hard to think small to begin with; it\u2019s even harder to stay small. For example, let\u2019s say Jake\u2019s micro habit was to do 2 push-ups a day. After earning 10 Y\u2019s in a row on his Yes List, Jake was eager to do more. For the next two days, he did five push-ups, soon pushing up the number to 10 and then adding a 20-minute workout after. The sad result? Within two months, Jake would give up exercising due to the simple fact that he had enlarged his goals unrealistically fast. You have to stick with your original micro habit long enough when you feel bored with it for at least 2 weeks in a row. Then increase it only by about 10%.<\/p>\n
Accountability is key<\/strong><\/h2>\nIt might sound strange to enlist a partner to monitor your daily reading of one paragraph or doing two push-ups. But having people support you and hold you accountable can cement new behaviours, and it helps them in return. The leadership program mentioned above has a peer group meeting every other week, and participants send a report of their micro habits weekly, updating the group on progress by stating how many days of the week they performed it. When you want to change behaviour, jumping headlong into a major goal with both feet is often a waste of time. Instead, make tiny, incremental adjustments until they are part of your muscle memory. By starting small, you can attain big results.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a real value in providing companies with the tools to carry out regular organisational assessments and\u00a0this is where Great People Inside <\/a>comes to your aid. Our online platform offers the best solutions and tools for your company to thrive in every type of industry and any possible situation your organisation may find itself. In terms of lowering your employee turnover rates, we recommend our GR8 Full Spectrum <\/a>assessment for hiring and 360\u00b0 Survey<\/a> for retention. Finding the right talent, the best fit for the job and your organisation can be a very challenging task. It requires deep knowledge of your own organisation’s culture and a keen understanding of the candidate\u2019s personality, strengths, interests, work style and other characteristics. Our technology and solutions will do the work for you, helping you find employees who can flourish and reach the highest performance required to constantly bring your company forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s hard to think small to begin with; it\u2019s even harder to stay small. For example, let\u2019s say Jake\u2019s micro habit was to do 2 push-ups a day. After earning 10 Y\u2019s in a row on his Yes List, Jake was eager to do more. For the next two days, he did five push-ups, soon pushing up the number to 10 and then adding a 20-minute workout after. The sad result? Within two months, Jake would give up exercising due to the simple fact that he had enlarged his goals unrealistically fast. You have to stick with your original micro habit long enough when you feel bored with it for at least 2 weeks in a row. Then increase it only by about 10%.<\/p>\n
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