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The Power of Habits
"Success is not about having one good day, it's about having good habits every day."
This quote comes from Atomic Habits author James Clear. For those of you who have read the book, you're likely familiar with the importance of habits and how they can shape not only your days, but your weeks, months, and even years.
The 21-Day Rule -- And Why Consistency Is Everything
One of the main things Clear shared is that it takes 21 days to build a habit. The main takeaway is, of course, consistency. In fact, there's another rule stating that you should never skip two days in a row.
It's okay to miss one day if you absolutely couldn't get that habit done -- but by skipping two days, your brain starts to become unconditioned to that habit, and you'll need to start the building process all over again.
My Personal Habit Journey
This is something I've been trying to be more mindful of with myself. I've been implementing a habit tracker for certain things I'm working to turn into daily habits. While I tend to do well with habits I've had going for a while, I haven't found that same consistency with the newer ones just yet. There will often be weeks where I skip two days -- sometimes even three -- depending on the circumstances.
What I've come to realize is just how much that quote holds true. By not being consistent with the daily habits I'm trying to build, it takes me further from my goals, which takes me further from success.
Reframing What Success Actually Looks Like
By thinking about success in terms of daily habits, I think it can also take a lot of pressure off of what you may have previously had in mind. It goes to show that success is not an overnight thing -- it takes time, and most importantly, consistency.
I'm emphasizing on consistency because I know it's been an area I've been struggling with in the first quarter of this year. But when I break it down, it's really because I haven't set up the right daily habits or systems yet.
Where I'm Falling Short -- And What I'm Doing About It
While I'm very good at staying consistent with this podcast, I struggle to post consistently on other social media platforms -- which can hurt when it comes to reach and visibility. That's definitely an area where I don't have a proper system in place.
Using this as an example, here are two things I'm implementing in April to improve the consistency of my social media presence:
- Building a proper content calendar. I've tried different templates and layouts before, but they never worked in a way that made sense to me -- too many pages, or ones I didn't need that wouldn't sync together visually. So instead, I'm creating my own. Depending on how it turns out, it might be something I share with others in hopes that it works for them too.
- Setting time blocks for content tasks. In the past, I've often waited until the last minute to quickly film a reel and get it posted -- and that's neither enjoyable nor sustainable. By building in dedicated time blocks, I can assign specific tasks to specific days: one day for ideation, another for filming, then editing, scheduling, and so on. As someone actively working on time management, this feels like a great way to solve two problems at once.
Your Turn -- What System Isn's Working For You?
What is something you've been struggling with? Is it a habit you're looking to build, or a system that hasn't been clicking? Share it in the comments below -- I'd love to hear from you and help you brainstorm solutions!
While it may feel overwhelming to get started, it will ultimately take such a weight off your shoulders. As someone who has been a victim of procrastination, I can assure you that nothing feels better than having things prepped and ready to go -- rather than scrambling in those last stressful moments.
Be Patient With Yourself
That change may not happen instantly. It does take 21 days to build a habit, so don't beat yourself up if something doesn't stick right away. If after those three weeks a habit still isn't working, it may just need a small tweak. The same system isn't going to work the same way for every person -- we're all built differently, and that's a beautiful thing.
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