The 2 ideas routine: write down 2-10 brand new ideas every single day about anything you want. Write down 2+ new ideas for articles, books, videos, etc. — things in your creative career.Also write down 2+ things you're grateful for. Because gratitude keeps you grounded in this crazy world.

2 things every morning

Spend a dedicated amount of time (about 2 hours) each day building some sort of side business or creative project. Who couldn’t use more money?You’re about 2 years away from a full-time gig, just a few minutes or hours a day at a time.

2 hours every day

You don’t get good at meditating. The point of meditation is for you to understand how bat shit crazy your mind is.Practice meditation for 2-20 minutes, observe your thoughts in real-time, question them, and sometimes let go of them right on spot.

20 minutes every night

<figure><img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/0*uxixy4VespcIKbVV" width="785" height="523"><figcaption class="eh ei cy cw cx ej ek cd b el cf cg" data-selectable-paragraph="" dir="ltr">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@janlosert?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral" class="cj em" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Jan Losert</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral" class="cj em" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>I’m going to share three habits that have been covered to death already.But I’m going to share them with you in, hopefully, a unique enough way that you’re compelled to actually adopt these habits and take them beyond the level I see most people use them.Too much of the self-improvement space has become the glorification of tactics, habits, and strategies, rather than, you know, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t2Zwrxt3i0&amp;t=17s" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">getting great outcomes</a>.Most billionaires read a lot, but there are also people who read a lot that do nothing with the information.There are people who have the most amazing morning routine in the world, but they haven’t gone past the step of having a ‘miracle morning,’ which is to create miracles in their own life.I use a bunch of different habits, strategies, and routines as a means to my end goals — becoming a better writer, growing my business, being able to emotionally regulate myself long enough to achieve those outcomes, etc.So before we dive into the habits themselves, keep that in mind.Your habits are to facilitate a goal, not to be Mr. or Mrs. Habit.Your habits are a means to an end, not the ends themselves.Habits are helpful in the pursuit of success, but they don’t cause success — billionaires read books, but reading books won’t make you a billionaire.Get it? Got it? Good.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">The Habit that Sprouted the Seeds to Amazing Ideas</h1>I actually stole part of this routine from the famous James Altucher.I use his “10 ideas routine” as a part of a bigger <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2f8D7Yp3Gk&amp;t=1s" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">journaling routine</a> that has helped me achieve huge goals, come up with ideas for amazing products, and stay sane in the process of trying to do all the above.Synopsis of the 10 ideas routine: write down 10 brand new ideas every single day about anything you want. I usually write down 10 ideas for articles, books, videos, etc. — things in my creative career.As James explains, this builds your idea muscle which makes you more creative. More creativity makes idea execution easier because you have more good ideas.On top of the 10 ideas routine, I also write down three things I’m grateful for.Why? Because gratitude keeps you grounded in this crazy world.Too many people get caught up in their sense of entitlement and constant complaining that they never get anything done.Even in my case, I get caught up in my head too much and gratitude helps me stay productive because I already know I have everything I need, which means I should focus on the abundance in the world instead of the downside.Also, I keep very short task lists and finish them. This entire routine takes 10 minutes tops, and it has helped guide my actions over the past half-decade to go from dead broke to living a life I once dreamed of.Key distinction — your journaling routine should help guide your actions.Like all habits, this can quickly be something you do for vanity and naval gazing. Use your journaling habit to produce outcomes in the real world.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">The Habit that Paved the Way to a Dream Life</h1>Even if you don’t have dreams of becoming a true entrepreneur, you should spend a dedicated amount of time each day building some sort of side business or creative project.Most of you would like to build a business that replaces your job or at least is able to learn a skill that helps you switch careers.Who couldn’t use more money?Also, you’ll learn valuable skills that will help you in all areas of life regardless of how well your side project turns out.Skills like:<UL><LI>Persuasion — When you learn how to sell something to someone or get them to view your content, you’re learning the valuable skill of getting people to do what you want them to do. This has wide-ranging implications, obviously. Also, when you learn how to persuade others, you understand how others try to persuade you, which helps you build defenses against bad actors.</LI><LI>Adaptability — The employment world can be predictable. Also, when you get paid the same amount of money regardless of your effort and output, you’re training yourself to operate below your potential. Working on a business or project helps you build constant awareness and the ability to iterate, which is useful for life’s problems in general, not just business problems.</LI><LI>Confidence building through feedback loops — Feedback loops work like this. Anytime you do something well, you get a little subconscious signal put into your brain that says “you’re a winner” this makes it easier to perform and win the next time around, creating an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRN-I095CFk" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">upward spiral of success</a>. Being able to get a business or project off the ground is one of the ultimate upward spirals you can achieve and leads to an overall higher level of confidence.</LI></UL>Here’s where the habit aspect comes into it. Spend a moderate amount of time working on your side business each day.I used to work for about an hour per day before I went to work. Sometimes 2–3 hours, but always one hour minimum.It took me five years to build that side project into a full-time gig, but slowly and surely I got it to work.That’s the crazy thing about it. You’re a couple of years away from a full-time gig, just a few minutes or hours a day at a time.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">The Habit that I’ll Probably Do for the Rest of My Life</h1>You don’t get good at meditating.The point of meditation is for you to understand how bat shit crazy your mind is.When you sit there and observe just how many and how outrageous your thoughts are, you get better at controlling your thoughts and emotions throughout your day-to-day life.When you’re better at controlling your thoughts and emotions throughout your day-to-day life, you can make more progress toward your goals because you’re not constantly getting tripped up by your thoughts.The more you practice meditation, which again is just observation, you learn to observe your thoughts in real-time, question them, and then sometimes be able to get go of them right on the spot.Most people don’t achieve the outcomes they want in their life because they’re totally stuck in their heads.They derive their identity from their thoughts instead of understanding that their thoughts are just thoughts — separate from them.Again, means to an end, not the means themselves. I’m into Eastern Philosophy, but I’m not one of those people who constantly talk about meditation and Yoga so people know I meditate and do Yoga.I use these habits to keep myself sane and stay focused. We’re living in a crazy world these days. It seems to get crazier and crazier.If you can’t focus, you can’t win. So use these tools to focus, use these habits to get you to your destination, use whatever habits you need to use to get the job done.Don’t worship habits.Don’t worship success.Definitely don’t worship successful people.Just understand that you have a bunch of deep-seated needs and goals you want to be met and that habits can help you meet them. Simple.

But I’m going to share them with you in, hopefully, a unique enough way that you’re compelled to actually adopt these habits and take them beyond the level I see most people use them. Too much of the…

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

habits

Habits

I’m going to share three habits that have been covered to death already.

But I’m going to share them with you in, hopefully, a unique enough way that you’re compelled to actually adopt these habits and take them beyond the level I see most people use them.

Too much of the self-improvement space has become the glorification of tactics, habits, and strategies, rather than, you know, <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t2Zwrxt3i0&amp;t=17s" rel="noopener nofollow">getting great outcomes </a>.

Most billionaires read a lot, but there are also people who read a lot that do nothing with the information.

There are people who have the most amazing morning routine in the world, but they haven’t gone past the step of having a ‘miracle morning,’ which is to create miracles in their own life.

I use a bunch of different habits, strategies, and routines as a means to my end goals — becoming a better writer, growing my business, being able to emotionally regulate myself long enough to achieve those outcomes, etc.

So before we dive into the habits themselves, keep that in mind.

Your habits are to facilitate a goal, not to be Mr. or Mrs. Habit.

Your habits are a means to an end, not the ends themselves.

Get it? Got it? Good.

The Habit that Sprouted the Seeds to Amazing Ideas

I actually stole part of this routine from the famous James Altucher.

I use his “10 ideas routine” as a part of a bigger <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2f8D7Yp3Gk&amp;t=1s" rel="noopener nofollow">journaling routine </a>that has helped me achieve huge goals, come up with ideas for amazing products, and stay sane in the process of trying to do all the above.

Synopsis of the 10 ideas routine: write down 10 brand new ideas every single day about anything you want. I usually write down 10 ideas for articles, books, videos, etc. — things in my creative career.

As James explains, this builds your idea muscle which makes you more creative. More creativity makes idea execution easier because you have more good ideas.

On top of the 10 ideas routine, I also write down three things I’m grateful for.

Why? Because gratitude keeps you grounded in this crazy world.

Too many people get caught up in their sense of entitlement and constant complaining that they never get anything done.

Even in my case, I get caught up in my head too much and gratitude helps me stay productive because I already know I have everything I need, which means I should focus on the abundance in the world instead of the downside.

Also, I keep very short task lists and finish them. This entire routine takes 10 minutes tops, and it has helped guide my actions over the past half-decade to go from dead broke to living a life I once dreamed of.

Key distinction — your journaling routine should help guide your actions.

Like all habits, this can quickly be something you do for vanity and naval gazing. Use your journaling habit to produce outcomes in the real world.

The Habit that Paved the Way to a Dream Life

Even if you don’t have dreams of becoming a true entrepreneur, you should spend a dedicated amount of time each day building some sort of side business or creative project.

Most of you would like to build a business that replaces your job or at least is able to learn a skill that helps you switch careers.

Who couldn’t use more money?

Also, you’ll learn valuable skills that will help you in all areas of life regardless of how well your side project turns out.

Skills like:

<ul><li>Persuasion — When you learn how to sell something to someone or get them to view your content, you’re learning the valuable skill of getting people to do what you want them to do. This has wide-ranging implications, obviously. Also, when you learn how to persuade others, you understand how others try to persuade you, which helps you build defenses against bad actors. </li><li>Adaptability — The employment world can be predictable. Also, when you get paid the same amount of money regardless of your effort and output, you’re training yourself to operate below your potential. Working on a business or project helps you build constant awareness and the ability to iterate, which is useful for life’s problems in general, not just business problems. </li><li>Confidence building through feedback loops — Feedback loops work like this. Anytime you do something well, you get a little subconscious signal put into your brain that says “you’re a winner” this makes it easier to perform and win the next time around, creating an <a dir="ltr" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRN-I095CFk" rel="noopener nofollow">upward spiral of success </a>. Being able to get a business or project off the ground is one of the ultimate upward spirals you can achieve and leads to an overall higher level of confidence. </li> </ul>

Here’s where the habit aspect comes into it. Spend a moderate amount of time working on your side business each day.

I used to work for about an hour per day before I went to work. Sometimes 2–3 hours, but always one hour minimum.

It took me five years to build that side project into a full-time gig, but slowly and surely I got it to work.

That’s the crazy thing about it. You’re a couple of years away from a full-time gig, just a few minutes or hours a day at a time.

The Habit that I’ll Probably Do for the Rest of My Life

You don’t get good at meditating.

The point of meditation is for you to understand how bat shit crazy your mind is.

When you sit there and observe just how many and how outrageous your thoughts are, you get better at controlling your thoughts and emotions throughout your day-to-day life.

When you’re better at controlling your thoughts and emotions throughout your day-to-day life, you can make more progress toward your goals because you’re not constantly getting tripped up by your thoughts.

The more you practice meditation, which again is just observation, you learn to observe your thoughts in real-time, question them, and then sometimes be able to get go of them right on the spot.

Most people don’t achieve the outcomes they want in their life because they’re totally stuck in their heads.

They derive their identity from their thoughts instead of understanding that their thoughts are just thoughts — separate from them.

Again, means to an end, not the means themselves. I’m into Eastern Philosophy, but I’m not one of those people who constantly talk about meditation and Yoga so peopleknow I meditate and do Yoga.

I use these habits to keep myself sane and stay focused. We’re living in a crazy world these days. It seems to get crazier and crazier.

If you can’t focus, you can’t win. So use these tools to focus, use these habits to get you to your destination, use whatever habits you need to use to get the job done.

Don’t worship habits.

Don’t worship success.

Definitely don’t worship successful people.

Just understand that you have a bunch of deep-seated needs and goals you want to be met and that habits can help you meet them. Simple.

Small Habits You Can Use to Transform Your Life

2 things every morning

2 hours every day

20 minutes every night

Girish Nalawade's ideas are part of this journey:

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