One Apple A Day #448 - be creative with your weaknesses
I believe in the transformative power of small daily practices. If I want to learn a new skill, develop a new behavior or become better at anything, I create a daily habit. Something, small that I can integrate seamlessly into my life and in my environment. I love to experiment and play new practices. It transforms everything into a playful experience.
For a new practice to stick, it must match my passions, my values, and my strengths. This way I can create the consistency needed to make it a habit.
The other day, however, I was facing a different type of challenge. I didn't want to learn something new. I needed to stop doing something. I wanted to get rid of a habit that it's affecting my focus and my productivity. When I don't have something planned like a meeting or a session with a client, instead of tackling an item in my to-do list, I end up wandering aimlessly online between useless videos and not-so-interesting articles. At the crossroad between work and idleness, I just go with the path of less resistance. Anytime this happens, I feel guilty.
I tried many solutions from better planning to external accountability, but nothing really worked. I know how to create a habit, but how do you get rid of one? One that plays on my weaknesses. In this case laziness.
And then, in a session with my fantastic coach, it hit me. The answer was in that same weakness. I just needed to be creative by being more who I am. In this particular case, I decided to use my passion for stories as a way out of the unwanted habit. I now keep a novel always at hand. Anytime I feel I'm dragged towards a time-wasting activity, I take out my book, and I start reading. I'm still not doing the things in my to-do list that I should do. But at least I don't feel guilty at the end of the day.