This month, we're focusing on habits. Considering the baby steps we focused on last month, we know that progress towards tidy technology comes most reliably through small tasks done regularly for a long time.
Tackling any large organizational project can be stressful and challenging without the proper habits. But with good behavioral tools and tricks at your disposal, you can progress and succeed no matter how big the task is. I bet that most of you agree that good habits provide the foundation for data-taming success. But you might still have a lingering question: how do I build the habits I need?
Building good habits can seem like a daunting task, but luckily, there are many techniques you can try. Finding one that works for you is vital since everyone approaches goals and habits differently. A method that works for me might be distracting and counterproductive for you, or vice-versa. Whether you prefer to use sticky notes, a habit-tracking app, an accountability partner, or something else, rest assured that habit creation is possible.
Each week this month, we'll look at four different techniques for building habits.
- Routine triggers
- Paper
- Apps
- Friends
You can combine all of them or focus on the methods that suit you most. Each has advantages and disadvantages depending on how you work and what kind of motivation you respond to.
Habits Week 1: Routine Triggers
If this sounds familiar, it's because last week's post discussed a similar idea. It should make for an easy transition into a habit-focused month by not giving you too much new stuff right on the heels of the Labor Day holiday weekend (here in the US, anyway).
Starting a new habit from scratch can be challenging, even if you feel eager and motivated. Our busy lives present endless distractions and interruptions that cause us to procrastinate or forget our good intentions entirely. To work around this, attach your new habit to something you already do. This tricks your brain into accepting the new behavior as an extension of an established pattern.
The list below provides some examples of routine triggers most of us already do regularly:
- Brushing your teeth
- Using the restroom
- Eating a meal
- Taking a drink of water
- Standing intentionally (excellent if your watch or exercise band reminds you anyway)
- Leaving home to go to work, or leaving work to go home
- Sitting down at our desk or table to begin working
- Beginning or completing an early morning wake-up ritual or end-of-day bedtime ritual
Some occur more predictably than others, but all allow injecting a new practice that only takes a few minutes.
For example, you could delete five emails every time you have lunch during a workday. Or, you could skip scrolling through social media during a bathroom break and instead open the Photos app on your phone to edit, cull, and organize your most recent set of pictures and videos.
Cementing the new addition will take some focus at first. But it should only require a few repetitions before it starts to feel like a regular part of your day. The main limitation of this approach is that it doesn't generally work well for large blocks of time. If you're hoping to spend two hours on data organization tasks all at once every week, a time-blocked calendar might serve you better.
What routines can you use for a new habit? See what you can come up with this week, and happy data-taming!