When you decide to create a daily habit, two things will happen:
1) Resistance will rise up.
2) You will become stronger.
Here are a few quick thoughts on those two ideas.
Resistance Rises Up
You’re going to feel challenged on this daily habit most days. First, because you’re doing something new. You haven’t done this consistently before. Of course, it’s going to be hard. Of course, it’s not going to feel natural. Of course, it’s going to stretch you.
On your best days, you’ll feel like doing the new habit.
On your average days, you’re going to encounter some small obstacles.
On your worst days, you’re going to face The Resistance and all of its lies head-on.
You’re going to need some tools to get around it, some strategies to outsmart it.
Maybe you go for a brief walk. Maybe you do 20 pushups. Maybe you turn on a certain playlist and jam. Maybe you sit in a specific chair in a specific room for the sake of this routine. Maybe you read affirmations. Maybe you pray.
Whatever you choose, when you face this resistance and you beat it…
You Become Stronger
You become stronger.
Each day you don’t give in, you build that muscle.
Each day you don’t give up, you grow your resilience.
Each day you don’t quit, it becomes easier to keep going.
The habit starts to become a part of who you are.
It’s part of your character.
I’m a writer, therefore, I write every day.
I write every day, therefore, I’m a writer.
What’s a Daily Habit You Could Start?
Chances are, you’re not a writer. There are literally endless amounts of options you can choose for a daily habit. Here are ten to get you started:
- A reading habit
- An exercise habit (walking, biking, lifting, yoga, etc)
- A sleep routine
- A calorie or food-related goal
- A screen-time limit
- A new hobby (drawing, knitting, learning a language, etc)
- A daily savings habit
- A gratitude list
- A drink-related goal (more water, a controlled number of ounces of coffee, lemon-ginger drink, etc)
- A mindfulness or meditation habit
Don’t try all of these at once. That would be silly. But pick something. Pick one thing.
Start a simple tally tracker.
Then, don’t break the streak!
Omer Redden 