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The Four Hidden Habit Skills : zen habits
Noticing rationalizations
Our minds are good at coming up with rationalizations, especially when we're procrastinating on something:
- It's too hard.You don't need to suffer like this.
- You deserve a break.You'll do it tomorrow.
The skill to master is to recognise this rationalization process in action. Be mindful of it. Once you become aware of it, come up with counterarguments for each rationalization.
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Key Ideas
It takes practice to get good at anything
Feedback is essential when you learn a new skill. However, when people learn the skill of 'creating new habits,' they think making mistakes is a sign of being a failure and showing an utter lack of discipline.
In reality, this is not true. No one mastered anything on their first few attempts — it takes practice to get good at anything.
Committing to actually starting
Overcome your mind's resistance to get started by saying, "I'm all in. I'm going to start today." Then get moving. If you're not good at this, commit to making a small habit change this instant.
Many people want to learn a language or start exercising, but then don't take action. It is because they haven't really committed to getting started.
Focus on starting
The skill to master is getting started. You don't have to exercise for half an hour; you only need to start.
Often, we're supposed to do a new habit, and we procrastinate, turn to distractions, and rationalize our resistance.
Noticing rationalizations
Our minds are good at coming up with rationalizations, especially when we're procrastinating on something:
- It's too hard.You don't need to suffer like this.
- You deserve a break.You'll do it tomorrow.
The skill to master is to recognise this rationalization process in action. Be mindful of it. Once you become aware of it, come up with counterarguments for each rationalization.
Constant re-adjustment
People fail to realise how important developing the habit skill is. They have a specific idea of what their habit will be like, and when it doesn't go according to plan, they feel guilty and think they're a failure.
Overcome this with a flexible mindset. If you forget to do the habit, adjust by coming up with reminders. If you procrastinate on social media block it until 5 p.m.
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
Postponing Things With Little Value
We often have an urge to do things that have no productive value, but we still do them due to the forces of habit or when we cannot say no to others.An effective way to deal with such tasks is to delay them.
Whether it is snacking, playing a video game, browsing videos, or even smoking, one can delay the desire for doing the activity by keeping oneself intentionally busy.
Listen To Understand
While listening to others speak, a million thoughts come to our mind, about how we have handled similar situations, and how many mistakes the other person has made in what is being stated. We normally blurt out at the first chance and criticize the other person, or boast about our superhuman abilities.
A better way is to delay that, keeping quiet and simply listening to the other person, focusing on one's breath if needed.
one more idea
Dealing with too much stress
When dealing with too much stress to the point that you feel overwhelmed, try focusing on the idea that this is a reality which yourself you might have created. True or not, think next to the fact ...
Steps to start feeling better
When feeling overwhelmed, try some steps in order to feel better, such as the below ones:
Try to rest your mind, even for a few minutes at a time
Make a list that contains three most important tasks that have to be accomplished and focused on them before solving everything else that is less important
Teach yourself how to better enjoy your stressful days
You decide on how you experience your day, that is one thing we are all well aware of. So why not choosing to fulfill one task at a time, to focus on one person or challenge at a time? Take things easier and enjoy all the moments your life is made up of.
Moving Away From Pseudo-Work
Pseudo-work is when one works just for the sake of work, and is productive on paper but hasn’t really achieved anything substantial, or contributed to one’s core objective.
Focusing on Meaningful Work
- When the focus is on the essential, we start to work on what matters to us the most. It makes us avoid the urgent work shoved in our faces which may not be important at all.
- Focusing on meaningful work helps us prioritize our day in the order that aligns with our purpose and mission. It makes us less stressed out and more joyful.
- Productive work, which is challenging and even discomforting is welcomed as it is important and meaningful to our lives. The distractions then no longer disturb us as we are giving the work our entire focus.
Keys To Essential Meaningful Productivity
- Be clear on what matters to you, and focus on that.
- A lack of structure makes the entire day random and accidental. It is good to have a certain structure for all your tasks while keeping it flexible.
- Remind yourself the reason for it being important to you, and then give it your heart and soul. Keep yourself in a playful, relaxed mode.
- Move towards any fear you encounter, and not away from it. It may be a small obstacle but our psychological fears make us feel discomfort or groundlessness.
- Batch out small errands into specific, time-bound activities, leaving time for more important things.