Just the other day I read a terrific article on habits and goals, "Autopilot Achievement: How to Turn Your Goals into Habits," by Leo Babauta, creator of the very successful (and very good) blog, ZenHabits.net. I mean this article is Really Terrific! It inspired me to work on establishing the habit of working on decluttering and organizing my stuff Every Day, and to support the formation of that habit by holding myself accountable by way of a blog -- this blog. I highly recommend reading the entire article, which can be found at http://zenhabits.net/2008/06/autopilot-achievement-how-to-turn-your-goals-into-habits/, but here is the main idea in Leo's own words:
"Break your goals into habits, and focus on putting those habits into autopilot.... once you put it on autopilot, once a habit is firmly established, you don’t really have to focus on it much. You’ll still do it, but because it’s a habit, you only have to use minimal focus to maintain that habit. The goal becomes on autopilot, and you can focus on your next goal or project or habit."
I have been wrestling with the task of organizing my stuff for years, but, finding the task to be extremely unpleasant and quite overwhelming, I have made little progress on it. If I could establish the habit of working on it everyday, I should be able to finally complete this task and move onto something a little more inspiring. But first things first, and the first thing is to get my stuff in order. Now that I have this blog and am thereby accountable to you, I believe my chances of success are much improved. I can do this. I will do this. That's my commitment, to me . . . and to YOU.
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It's later the same day, and time for my first report. Well, I can't say I get a high mark for the amount of organizing I did today, but I did do some, and that's the main thing. So I would say I'm off to a good start: my accountability blog is launched, and I did do some organizing on the first day. Now if I just keep this up, the job should get done this year. That would put a wrap on a project twenty years overdue. Now that would be cause for celebration.
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2 comments:
Tom, incline the mind to declutter. think of the joys and happiness you will feel when you haave a new habit. I hope its not black or blue like traditonal nuns...........
pete seeger - says - "inch by inch....row by row......thats how the garden grows. so happy gardening of your room..........
guess who - anon
Thanks Damien for trying to reach out to help me to keep me motivated. I am happy to know that you are also trying to organise your life like me. I am also trying right now to make certain habits and I am just hoping as Leo says for habit to be firmly established. As I mentioned in my blog, I just do not want to fall in my own eyes this time. I really wish you all the best in your attempt to declutter and organise your stuff.
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