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

The article discusses strategies for starting and maintaining healthy habits, such as exercise, reading, or learning a new skill. The author shares their own experiences and insights, drawing on the work of productivity expert David Allen and habit formation specialist James Clear. Some key takeaways include:

1. **Start small**: Begin with tiny, manageable increments of effort, rather than trying to overhaul your entire routine at once.
2. **Make it a chain**: Build a "chain" of consecutive days by doing something small each day, even if it's just for a few minutes.
3. **Reduce friction**: Eliminate distractions and obstacles that might prevent you from sticking to your habit, such as using digital tools or finding an analog alternative.
4. **Let go of old habits**: Regularly review your commitments and habits, and be willing to let go of those that no longer serve you.
5. **Do the work**: Consistently show up and put in the effort required for your new habit, even if it feels uncomfortable or difficult at first.
6. **Find meaning behind the habit**: Understand why you want to adopt this new habit, and connect with its underlying purpose and values.

The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of living life on one's own terms, rather than simply going through the motions. By cultivating habits that align with your true interests and values, you can create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
 
πŸ€” I think starting small is key 🌱. It's like when you're trying to get into a new exercise routine and it feels overwhelming... 5k runs in the morning? πŸ˜‚ No thanks! Start with like, 2 minutes of jumping jacks or something and gradually increase the time as your body gets used to it. That way you don't burn out (literally) and make it a sustainable habit. And I'm all about finding meaning behind the habits too πŸ’‘... for me, it's about creating space in my life for creativity and self-expression. What does yours look like? πŸ€—
 
I'm all about trying new things, but I think starting small is key πŸ€”. Like, I've been trying to learn how to play guitar for ages, but every time I try to sit down and practice for an hour, I end up giving up after 10 minutes πŸ˜‚. But when I start with just 5-10 minutes a day, it's so much more manageable. And then, as you build that chain of consecutive days, it becomes this thing where you don't want to miss a day πŸ“†. It's all about making tiny wins and celebrating those small victories along the way πŸŽ‰.
 
πŸ€” I'm not convinced that starting small is always the best approach. What about people who need to make drastic changes in their lives, like quitting a toxic job or getting sober? Do they really need to break it down into teeny tiny steps? It seems too easy out? πŸ™„ Sources needed!
 
omg i cant even believe how hard it is to start something new lol. i tried to learn a new language last year but didnt make it past 10 mins without getting bored. the chain thing sounds so easy in theory tho maybe ill try that? but honestly im not sure if i have the self discipline for all this new habit stuff πŸ€”πŸ’ͺ
 
omg i feel like we're all just trying to figure this out as we go along you know? it's so hard to start something new especially when our minds are already filled up with a million other things 🀯 anyway what really resonates with me is that first point - starting small i mean who has the energy or motivation to change everything at once right let's just take tiny steps and build from there πŸ’ͺ also i love the idea of finding meaning behind our habits it's easy to get caught up in just doing something for the sake of doing it but if we can understand why we're doing it then that changes everything πŸ™
 
I mean, think about it... we're always chasing these external markers of success - exercise, reading, learning a new skill... but what's really driving us? Is it just to tick boxes or impress others, or is it something deeper? I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I feel like our habits should be a reflection of who we truly are as individuals. It's not just about getting up earlier or eating healthier, it's about creating space for ourselves to grow and explore what brings us joy. And let's be real, it's easy to fall off the wagon when life gets in the way... but that's where self-reflection comes in - we need to take a step back and ask ourselves why we're doing something, not just what we think we should be doing. πŸ’‘
 
πŸ€” I've been reading about how to start healthy habits for ages, but honestly, it's all pretty simple once you break it down... just start tiny, build momentum, and find what makes it worth doing in the first place πŸ“šπŸ’ͺ. I've had my fair share of failures, too - there was this one time I tried to learn a new language for like 3 months, only to get bored and give up πŸ˜‚. But then I went back to it with a fresh perspective and made it work out in the end.

What really resonates with me is the part about reducing friction 🚫 - I'm all about finding ways to make my habits easier to stick to, whether that means using apps or just plain old analog tools... whatever works! And yeah, letting go of old habits can be tough, but it's worth it in the end. Life's too short to be stuck on something that doesn't serve you 😊.
 
I THINK STARTING SMALL IS KEY!!! IT'S SO EASY TO GET OVERWHELMED WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING AT ONCE. I MEAN, WHO CAN EVEN DO THAT?! BUT BY STARTING WITH THOSE TINY INCREMENTS OF EFFORT, YOU'RE SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS. AND IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING A CHAIN OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS - YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW YOU GET INTO A ROUTINE OF WALKING TO WORK EVERY MORNING, OR HOW I FIND MYSELF READING FOR AN HOUR BEFORE BED EVEN THOUGH I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE IT 😴. ANYWAY, LETTING GO OF OLD HABITS IS ALSO SUPER IMPORTANT - WE ALL NEED TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT'S SERVING US AND WHAT'S NOT, RIGHT? πŸ€”
 
I'm so tired of ppl thinkin they can just start doin' stuff overnight πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ like exercise or readin or learnin a new skill is gonna happen by magic. Newsflash: it takes work! Start with tiny steps, not tryin to change EVERYTHING at once. I mean, I know it's easy to get hyped about all the cool things you wanna do but then life gets in the way and you're just stuck πŸ€”. Find what works for u and stick with it. Make a routine that doesn't sound like a chore πŸ“. And don't even get me started on distractions... I mean, come on ppl, turn off your phone or put it on silent mode already! πŸ˜‚ Let go of old habits that ain't servin' u no more. It's all about findin the why behind what u wanna do and makin it a part of who u are πŸ’ͺ. That's the key to creatin a life thats actually fulfillin πŸŽ‰
 
omg I'm so down for this 🀩 starting small is literally key to getting anything done, we all know how overwhelming it feels when faced with too much at once 😩 I've been trying to start exercising regularly but I have to admit that I started by just taking a 5min walk each day πŸšΆβ€β™€οΈ and gradually increased the time as I got into it πŸ’ͺ it's all about finding ways to make it enjoyable and not feeling like you're stuck in some kind of rut 😴
 
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