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One simple trick that makes habit formation easier
This post contains no mention of Atomic Habits by James Clear — I promise.
If you’re someone who struggles with implementing habits then give this a go.
All you need is your phone.
Note: this is for time-bound habits only ie. habits that you want to do at a specific time of the day. For habits that can be done at any time of the day, you’d be better off setting reminders.
On your phone, create an alarm for your habit and give it a name in the form of an action you want to take. For example, if you want to start a journalling habit you could call it ‘Journal for 15 minutes’. You can also add an emoji to make it more fun if that’s your thing! 📝
Now choose the time and repeating schedule you want. For example, every morning at 8am.
Next time the alarm goes off, commit to doing the habit.
The only thing you need to make this a success is the commitment to obeying the alarm.
What to do if you keep ignoring the alarm
If you keep the alarm set and ignore it every time then you are programming your brain to associate alarms as something to ignore and dismiss. This will make using this method harder as you’ll not only be trying to implement a new habit but also having to rewire your brain to not ignore the alarm you’ve set.
So, if you notice yourself ignoring the alarm day after day then I recommend disabling it and journalling about why this might be and what you need to be able to action this habit. Maybe it’s setting it at a different time, maybe it’s making the habit easier to do — you’ll know what it is that you need.
The simple 3-strike rule for a stress-free inbox
Is your inbox full of newsletters you don’t read? Do you open your inbox with one eye closed? Is your unread email count greater than the amount of money you have in the bank?
If so, you will probably benefit from my simple 3-strike rule to keep your inbox stress-free and supportive.
For each newsletter you subscribe to, ask yourself the following question:
In the last 3 emails, have I received anything of value?
If the answer is no, you guessed it, unsubscribe!
If you’ve never done this before, it might take a little bit of time to get through your inbox so feel free to do this over a few days.
Once you’ve cleared your inbox, you can now employ the 3-strike rule on any new newsletters you may subscribe to. And for full transparency, sometimes I might go to 5 emails if I’m feeling particularly generous. Or, if I’m not feeling the vibe in the first email, I’ll unsubscribe straight away.
This might sound ruthless, but this is your energy, attention and sanity on the line and it should be protected.
Now, for an even more mindful approach, ask yourself before subscribing to a newsletter:
Does this align with my current goals or interests?
Is this something I really want or need in my inbox?
If the answer is no, then don’t subscribe.
Not only does this protect your energy and attention, but it protects you from having your email compromised or sold on to third-party companies.
The 6th regret of the dying
“1. I wish I’d had the courage to a live true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t work so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.”— Bronnie Ware, The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
These regrets were those of people nearing the end of their life but, given that the majority of people lived with the internet and social media only at the end of their life, I believe we may end up seeing a 6th regret when my generation (millennials) and those that follow me (Gen Z and Gen A) come to the end of our lives:
6. “I wish I didn’t spend so much time on my phone.”