Achieving your life goals starts with a 2min rule

SUNDAY, August 08, 2021 12:00 AM    

Have you found it difficult to start on a book? Or to get into a workout routine? Have you wondered where did your lock-down daily workout routine have gone to?


If you have ever found it difficult to get started on a good habit you wish to pick up, I might have found a way out for you.


The 2 minutes rule


Let’s find out what is it:



Stating a new habit should never take more than 2 minutes to do.


If you want to start any habit, scale down your habit.


From To
Read before bed every night read one page before bed every night
Do 30 minutes of workout Change into my workout attire
Study for class open my notes
Fold the laundry fold one pair of socks
Run 2.4 KM tie my running shoes

When you want to kick start a habit, make it as easy as possible to start. The entire habit can be a challenge to follow through, but the first 2 minutes should be easy.


Anyone can meditate for 1 minute, read one page or put 1 piece of clothing away. The idea is simple, once you start doing the right thing, it becomes easier for you to continue doing it.


Making a habit as easy as possible to start will lead you down a more productive path.


Take for example running a marathon is very difficult. Running 5 KM is intense and close to impossible when you are lying in your comfy bed. Walking 10,000 steps puts your brain into overdrive calculating how long will that take. But walking for 10mins is easy. Putting on your running shoe is even easier isn’t it.


Instead of trying to engineer a perfect habit from the start, do the easy thing on a more consistent basis. The idea is not solely about the 1minute tasks. The point is to master the habit of showing up. A habit must be established before it can be improved. If you cannot learn the basic skill of showing up, then you do not have any chance of mastering the habit.


Summary


As you master the art of showing up, the first 2 minutes simply becomes a routine to a larger routine. It’s not just a trick but regard the ideal way to mater a difficult task - by breaking it down to small un-intimidating tasks. The more you ritualize the beginning of a process, the more likely you will be able to slip into the state of deep focus required to do great but difficult things.




TLDR


It has never been easy to pick up the habit of writing when you are also starting your own company. But it is a discipline backed by understanding the importance of investing in yourself and your own personal growth. Let’s all take that first step to create good habits. In the space of technology, some application can take months of 18hours/day work to get a value adding application. but getting started by first creating the application gets you started on the long journey. It can be daunting when you think of how far the end goal may be; but keep focus on your next step, and the next. Soon you will be at the finish line.




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