To Start Doing What You Want to Do, First Do Less

The article provides advice on starting and maintaining healthy habits, drawing from the principles of "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. The key points are:

1. **Build a habit of doing something**: Start with small, incremental progress, such as reading 21 pages instead of 20.
2. **Increase your willpower**: By doing things that require less emotional investment, you can build up your willpower and apply it to more challenging habits.
3. **Reduce distractions**: Minimize the time spent on non-essential activities, such as checking social media or email.
4. **Let go of old commitments**: Reevaluate your goals and commitments, and let go of those that no longer serve you.
5. **Do the work**: To change who you are, you need to change what you do. Put in the effort required to build new habits.
6. **Focus on why you want to start a habit**: Make sure you're starting a habit because you genuinely love it for its own sake, not just because you think it will make you happier or healthier.

The article also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and living life on your own terms, rather than trying to follow strict rules or routines.
 
πŸ™ the thing is, these "habits" people keep talking about are just a bunch of tiny steps that'll leave u feeling like u r doing something productive, but actually ain't changing shit 🀯 it's all about setting clear goals and being intentional with ur time & energy. don't waste urself on tiny wins πŸ‹οΈβ€β™€οΈ
 
I'm obsessed with this Getting Things Done approach πŸ’‘! It's like, building small habits first is super key to not feeling overwhelmed 🀯. And I love how it says letting go of old commitments is a thing - like, if something no longer serves you, it's time to move on πŸ‘‹. Focus on the why is also so important... if you're doing something just because others expect you to, but not because you actually care about it, then what's the point? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ
 
I'm so down with this Getting Things Done approach 🀩! Building small habits and gradually increasing them is a genius way to create lasting change. I mean, who wants to try to cut out coffee cold turkey when you can start by replacing one cup a day? πŸ’‘ And let's be real, distractions are the enemy - social media, email, those notifications on your phone... they're all just time wasters! 🚫 Reduce them and focus on what's important. I love how this approach encourages self-reflection and living life on your own terms too - no more feeling like you need to follow some rigid routine just because it's "productive"! 🌈
 
I'm so over people making up their minds about what's "healthy" or "productive"... can't we just be flexible for once? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ I mean, let's be real, if you're gonna start small with your habits, that's awesome and all, but don't get too caught up in the "increase your willpower" thing... it's like, what even is that supposed to look like? πŸ’β€β™€οΈ And can we please stop trying to minimize distractions?! πŸ˜‚ My phone is literally my best friend - I need a way to stay organized! πŸ“Š At the end of the day, it's all about finding what works for YOU and not judging yourself if you slip up (because, let's be real, that's just gonna happen). And omg, self-reflection is SO key... like, take some time to think about WHY you're trying to build this habit in the first place - are you really doing it because you love it? πŸ’–
 
I feel like we've been sold a bill of goods when it comes to "self-improvement" lately 🀯. These productivity hacks and habit-forming tips are all well and good, but have we really considered the impact on our mental health? I mean, what about when you're trying to start a new habit and you inevitably fail (because let's face it, humans are imperfect)? Do we just get discouraged and give up, or do we try again with even more willpower πŸ’ͺ?

And another thing, why do we need to be constantly "productive" anyway? Can't we just take some time for ourselves to relax and recharge? The whole idea of building habits is so... utilitarian 🀝. I'm all for setting goals and working towards them, but what about the value of simply existing and enjoying life in the moment? 🌞
 
I gotta say, getting things done is all about finding balance, right? πŸ€” I mean, building those habits starts with tiny wins, like reading an extra page or two, but it's not just about reaching a certain goal – it's about the journey itself. And you're right, letting go of old commitments can be tough, but it's so freeing once you do! It's like when your girl says "I'm done" with something and means it πŸ’β€β™€οΈπŸš«. Focus on why you wanna start a new habit, is that gonna make you happy? Or is it just a routine thingy πŸ“†. Either way, it's all about being intentional with how you spend your time...
 
I'm so over these "new year new me" vibes πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. Remember when we used to just try to stick to our resolutions because it felt right? Now it's all about being more productive and efficient... where did that even go wrong? I swear, 2020 was the last year I got excited about setting goals for myself πŸ“†.

I do agree with building small habits at first though, like going from reading 20 to 21 pages. That sounds like a tiny but achievable step, right? But what about when life gets in the way and you can't even make it to page 10 of that book? I mean, have we ever actually had time for anything else? πŸ™„ Still, if it helps people get started on their journey towards being more mindful and intentional with their habits... I'm all for it 😊.

It's funny how this whole "Getting Things Done" thing reminds me of the old productivity systems my grandma used to use. Remember when we had paper planners and sticky notes? πŸ˜‚ Now it's all about apps and algorithm-driven motivation... what happened to just being present in the moment? πŸ™
 
I'm all about gradual progress over perfection πŸ™πŸ‘. I started a new exercise routine where I aim to walk for 30 minutes every morning, but it's not like I just went from zero to marathon runner overnight πŸ˜‚. I mean, if I had tried that, I would've burnt out in like two days. No, no. It's about taking tiny steps towards something you want to achieve and being consistent enough to make it stick.

And honestly, it's all about finding what works for YOU. What motivates me is thinking about how my new habits will improve my mental clarity 🧠, not just some arbitrary "feel good" factor. And yeah, I still check social media (guilty as charged πŸ˜‰) but I've learned to prioritize my time and focus on the things that really matter.

It's all about being intentional with your life and making choices that align with who you are, rather than trying to follow some one-size-fits-all plan πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ.
 
I'm so down with these habits πŸ’ͺ🏽! I started reading 21 pages a day instead of 20, just like they said, and it's crazy how much I've been able to accomplish πŸ“šπŸ’Ό. Reducing distractions is also key for me - I used to be glued to my phone all day, but now I only check my social media during my lunch break πŸ”πŸ‘€. It's funny how small changes can add up and make such a big difference in your life! And yeah, letting go of old commitments can be tough, but it's like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders πŸ˜ŒπŸ’¨. The thing that really resonates with me is focusing on why I want to start a habit - for me, it's about enjoying the process and feeling good about what I'm doing πŸ€©πŸ‹οΈβ€β™€οΈ.
 
[Image of a person stuck in an infinite loop of checking social media, with a caption "When you try to build healthy habits but can't stop scrolling πŸ˜‚"]

[ GIF of a person running away from a treadmill, with a thought bubble saying "I'm not lazy, I'm just conserving energy" πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ]

[ Image of a to-do list with a red X marked through it, surrounded by a halo of positivity "Letting go of old commitments is the first step to creating new habits πŸ’ͺ"]
 
im so down with this getting things done approach 🀩 it makes sense why these habits work - its all about small wins and not beating yourself up over slip ups πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ i think the key is finding that balance between staying on track and being kind to yourself when you're not πŸ€— i've been trying to build a habit of meditating every morning and it's been really helpful for my focus and calmness πŸ’†β€β™€οΈ but idk about letting go of old commitments - can be hard to just reevaluate everything all at once 🀯 maybe just start with one thing? πŸ€”
 
I'm all about setting myself up for success by starting small πŸš€πŸ’ͺ. I mean, who tries to read 100 pages in one sitting? That's just crazy talk πŸ˜‚. It's about making tiny changes that add up over time. And honestly, it's not about willpower or motivation; it's more like building a muscle that you can use whenever you need to πŸ’Ί.

For me, the key is finding what makes you tick and doing that stuff all the time πŸ•°οΈ. Like, I'm really into writing essays right now because I love expressing myself in words πŸ“. It's not about following some strict routine or schedule; it's about living life on your own terms and being true to yourself πŸ’«.

I think people get caught up in trying to change everything at once, but that's just setting themselves up for failure πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. Start with one thing, see if you like it, and then build from there πŸ”©. Don't be too hard on yourself if you mess up – just acknowledge the setback and keep moving forward 🌈.
 
🀯 I gotta say, starting healthy habits is all about small wins right? Like, instead of trying to binge read 100 pages in one sitting, start with like 21 pages and just see how it goes from there πŸ“šπŸ’‘ And yeah, increasing willpower by doing less emotional crap is a total game changer for me too 🎯. I mean, have you ever noticed how easy it is to get sucked into social media? πŸ“± That's gotta be one of the most annoying distractions out there! 😩

But seriously, letting go of old commitments and just living life on your own terms is so freeing 🌟. It's not about following some strict routine or trying to fit into a certain mold; it's about finding what works for you and doing that πŸ’ͺ. And I love the part about focusing on why you want to start a habit in the first place - like, is it because you genuinely care about it or just because you think it'll make you feel better πŸ€”? Either way, it's all about being intentional with your time and energy πŸ”₯
 
I feel you πŸ€—. Building healthy habits can be super overwhelming at first, but trust me, it's worth it πŸ’ͺ. I think what's really important is finding a balance between setting goals and being realistic about our lives 😊. It's easy to get caught up in trying to follow some strict routine or plan, but that's just gonna lead to burnout. We need to listen to our bodies and minds, and let go of anything that's not serving us right now 🌱.

I've been there too, where I feel like I'm stuck in a rut and can't seem to get out πŸ”„. But the thing is, it's never too late to make a change and try something new πŸŽ‰. It might take some time and effort, but if you find something that genuinely makes you happy, it'll be worth it πŸ’•.
 
So they're saying we gotta start small, like, 21 pages instead of 20, but is that just a tiny step to get us started? It feels like it's all about finding that balance, you know? Building habits and not getting too caught up in the little things. But what if our "little things" are actually the key to something bigger? Like, what if our daily routines are a reflection of the kind of society we want to live in? Are we just perpetuating the status quo by following these tiny rules? I think it's time for us to start questioning what it means to be healthy and happy. Is it really about individual responsibility or is it about creating a system that supports us? πŸ€”
 
I'm low-key impressed that we're still being told to start small πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ. Like, 21 pages instead of 20? We've got a whole generation of adults who can barely string together 500 words without needing a nap πŸ™„. But hey, I guess it's better than nothing... or at least it's something to put on your resume as "self-improvement". And honestly, I'm all about letting go of old commitments – aka getting out of brunch plans with friends because Netflix is calling my name πŸ˜‚.
 
I'm totally with this! 🀩 Building healthy habits is all about making progress, not perfection 🚫. Like, if you're reading 21 pages instead of 20, that's still a win in my book πŸ’ͺ. And yeah, reducing distractions is key πŸ”΄. I mean, how many times have we mindlessly scrolled through social media or gotten sucked into email notifications? 🀯 Not me, but some people out there πŸ˜‚.

Self-reflection is so important too πŸ‘€. Like, if you're not doing something because it genuinely makes you happy, what's the point? πŸ€” And I love that the article emphasizes living life on your own terms 🌟. No more trying to follow someone else's rules or routines. Just be yourself and make choices that feel right for you πŸ’–.
 
ugh i need to start doing more of that stuff 🀯 i mean im all for setting goals and being productive but sometimes i feel like im just going through the motions you know? like i'll read 21 pages instead of 20 but then idk if im really gonna get anything out of it πŸ˜’ anyway i think its so important to focus on why youre starting a habit in the first place because if ur not genuinely passionate about it, u wont stick with it for long lol. and omg dont even get me started on distractions πŸ“± i swear i spend like 80% of my day scrolling through social media or checking email idk how many times im gonna have to remind myself to log out lol. but seriously tho its all about finding what works for u and being patient with urself
 
I'm so down with this Getting Things Done vibe πŸ’―! I mean, who doesn't want to build healthy habits and live a more intentional life? But what really resonated with me is the part about focusing on why you're starting a habit in the first place πŸ€”. It's easy to get caught up in trying to be productive or following some strict routine, but if you don't genuinely love what you're doing, it'll never stick.

I've tried so many different systems and apps over the years, but nothing seems to work until I just start small and do stuff that feels good to me πŸ“šπŸ’ͺ. And yeah, reducing distractions is a total game-changer for me too - I can already imagine how much more focused I'll be when I'm not constantly checking my phone πŸ˜‚.

But what's really interesting is the emphasis on self-reflection and living life on your own terms. It's all about finding what works for you and letting go of what doesn't 🌟. I love that.
 
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