Never Stop Getting Started
Peloton or NordicTrack?
Calm or Headspace?
MyFitnessPal or Weight Watchers?
The start of a new year is upon us. 2022. With it comes the idea of a fresh start. New year. New me.
What bullshit.
It's not the resolution that annoys me. It's about people overindulging over the holidays. Feeling bad. Getting the motivation to change. Then back to old behaviors, a month later.
You don't need a new year to start changing. But I am rethinking my stance on new year's resolutions.
I don't hear people talking about resolutions And that's a problem.
Attempting change is always a good idea. Even if the most likely outcome is failing.
New diet. New exercise routine. Read more. Drink less.
Whatever your resolution, you won't be able to stick to it. Most give up by the middle of January.
This lack of success with changing isn't exclusive to the new year.
Smokers need to attempt quitting 30 times before they have a chance of quitting for good.
Most bad habits are sticky.
Present bias always makes you favor present you over future you.
It sounds grim but what's the other option?
When it comes to behavioral change, it's highly personalized. Individual differences matter. Results may vary.
You have to try a bunch of things out before change really occurs.
I recently discovered I have an event-based scheduling style. I have a hard time being rigid with my time-blocking schedule. I am not built that way. I wouldn't have this insight if I had quit and never tried time-blocking again.
This is what I call a smart failure. Each failure can be a win. Reflecting gives you a piece of evidence of how you are built.
It doesn’t however, make failing any easier. We are predisposed by society to think that failing means something is wrong with us.
Get over this fact. Failing isn’t the problem. The last man standing is the one who fails and starts again.
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As always, thank you for reading. Be well.
Irfan
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