“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~Aristotle.
Look, we’re all good at being consistent. But it comes down to what we choose to be consistent about. Yes, it works in business and in your career, but it’s perhaps more pertinent in your daily life.
Here is an exercise that may help you become consistent in challenging areas.
Pick one thing. You can’t tackle the mountain in one fell swoop, so choose one thing- one thing– you want to address today. When choosing this one thing, ask yourself: Will this change my life for the better?
Make it a priority. No, make it the priority. Focus on it, dwell on it, think on it, and make it your priority.
Make a plan. Most people fail because of a lack of a plan. Build a timeline and specifics. Depending on the item, create the steps to do it repeatedly. When and where. Generally, you’ll want to set aside the time (Monday at 7 am, Tuesday night at 9). Where will you repeatedly do this thing (e.g., your office, the front porch, at the office, etc.)?
What do you need? In other words, what tools do you need? (Read=which books; workout=exercise bike, mat; make friends=cards, list of people to contact).
Set boundaries. This is critical. Boundaries protect you and keep you on track. Your consistency depends on these boundaries.
- Give yourself permission to focus on you.
- Turn off your phone or computer.
- Get away from the chaos.
- Tell friends and family you’ll be unavailable during this time.
- Breathe.
- Honor your boundaries. No exceptions. No excuses.
Tell someone. In other words, find an accountability partner. Doing something in tandem is powerful. Tell someone and ask them to check on you. Better still, tell them when you’ve finished your one thing for the day.
Change consistencies. Maybe you’re doing something consistently you need to change. Instead of starting over, make an exchange of bad for good.
Get started, and you’ll find yourself halfway there!