Skip the resolutions this year. Do this instead to build better habits.

This post was originally shared in my semi-frequent Learn Something New(sletter). To never miss info like this, join the party! 🥳

The end of the year brings a lot of wonderful things; time off from work, sleeping in (if you don’t have children), creatively avoiding thinking about the future, all good stuff really. But one thing that happens, without fail, is a sudden pressure to develop resolutions for the new year.

If you’re not on team resolution, remember that according to a 2016 study, only 9% of folks who set resolutions feel like they’ve been successful. You’re in great company.

I have a different proposal, learning from James Clear’s Atomic Habits.

Skip the resolution, and focus on habit formation for this upcoming year instead.

Biggest whoa moment: Habits compound. It makes sense when you think about it - think of a habit you like - when you first started, it was probably hard. But now, it’s easy. It may actually be so easy that you can’t even think of a good habit, because now it’s ingrained in you! 

In the same way our savings compound (hopefully), each repetition of a good habit, those effects multiply. 

“If you can get just 1 percent better each day, you’ll end up with results that are nearly 37x better after one year.”

Put it into practice now: Resolutions tell you that things should be hard. They should be lofty, impressive, maybe a bit absurd. 

But to develop a habit, it should be easy. So, the next habit that you’ve selected to bring into your life, follow the two-minute rule. 

Break it down to something you can do in just two minutes. Want to read more? Read one page before bed. Want to exercise more? Tie your shoes. Want to eat healthier? Eat one carrot.

Keep in mind “the two minute rule can seem like a trick to some people. You know that the real goal is to do more than two minutes.” BUT…”one minute of reading is better than never picking up a book.”

What you’re working on isn’t drastic change, you’re working to “master the habit of showing up.” And that is what creates change. “You have to standardize before you optimize.”

What will your two-minute habit be?

Go deeper: 
Read the book: Atomic Habits
Listen to James: The Drive episode #183 
Take it for a spin: Join his 30 Days to Better Habits (on his site)
Check out the post on habit formation: How to build a habit without a movie montage

If you’re looking to work on your habits, motivation, and yes, goal-setting, I’m here for you. Want to see how great it is to partner with someone to cheer you on?