How I Changed My Life by Changing My Habits
(+ how you can too)
I don’t know who invented New Year’s resolutions or why, but I might assume that it was someone who found themselves overstuffed, hung-over, and much more closely resembling a sloth than a human — like most of us, really.
Although January 1st may seem like the promising clean slate we’ve been seeking, the statistics of resolution failure rates are so staggering it makes you wonder why we even bother trying.
What do we need to finally be successful?
Is it an intricate action plan laid out for the world to see?
Is it a detailed, splashy vision board?
Is it a complicated planner and color-coded pens?
Nope. No way. Not even close.
When I first set out on the wildly ambiguous mission of ‘changing my life’, I tried it ALL, and then some. But the missing step was not found in the grand showmanship of papers, puzzles, or poster boards but rather the small, daily actions to which I was able to repeatedly commit — otherwise known as habits.
As underwhelming and unexciting as it was to simplify my big visions into many minute steps, there was no denying the evidence that soon began to inch, shape, and finally transform my life from a laundry list of good intentions to a reality of good experiences.
Here’s how I got from ‘going-nowhere-there’ to ‘I really want to be here’ in three simple steps:
1. Identity Shift. In order for me to gain traction on some unsexy habits like getting up early or taking the trash out before it was overstuffed, I had to rewrite my identity story and decide that I was just someone who did these things. We all know those people who bounce out of bed and clean with joy — well, in my mind, I embodied this identity so much that I became it.
2. Ownership Mindset. When I wanted to change, it was tempting to take the tips & advice of people I looked up to but ultimately no one could take ownership of my priorities but me. Once I knew what my personal main objectives were, choosing my own non-negotiables not only became easier but also more enjoyable.
3. Simplify to Amplify. Simply put: the more I did, the less I did well. Focusing on the simplest, most effective action helped me be consistent and eventually gave the biggest return on investment.
When it comes to making resolutions, it’s one thing to set large, audacious goals to inspire you to dream bigger but when it comes down to getting it done, I’ve found the smaller and simpler the idea, the higher likelihood for sustainable success.
Our lives are a cumulation of choices, which when all stacked together, either define us positively or less desirable. Our identities then, are built by our habits — those tiny, almost imperceptible actions we take consistently over time. We are truly the designers and architects for whatever future we wish to create, one small habit at a time.
