Making Commitments to Yourself
Posted by Anthony
I just finished reading Switch, by Chip Heath & Dan Heath. It's a pretty comprehensive book about "how to change things when change is hard". There are a lot of great concepts discussed in this book, but one simple, effective trick they recommended really stuck out to me. I know it works because I do it on a daily basis.
This trick is what they call an "action trigger". An action trigger is nothing more than a small promise to yourself that when "Thing A" happens, you are committing yourself to then do "Thing B". We're all familiar with action triggers, although we may not realize they're deserving of a name:
- We set an alarm in the morning so that we wake up on time.
- We leaves a note on the fridge because we know we'll see it next time we get some food.
- We put doctors appointments on the calendar so that when that day comes, we're sure we won't forget.
These are all action triggers. They're simple, but they're extremely effective.
Getting things done throughout the day is all about momentum. And unfortunately, we become overwhelmed by to-do lists because we don't know where to start, or in what order we should continue. That's where action triggers come in. Action triggers force us to imagine how & when we will get something done. By simply imagining it, we are committing ourselves to doing it.
Action triggers don't always need to be centered around events; they can even be focused on dates & times. Think: "When the clock strikes 10am, I better be doing such-and-such". In other words, it's quite simply better to use your calendar than your to-do list. A to-do list is open-ended, but when you put a to-do on the calendar - that's a commitment.
By the end of each day, I have (at the very least) my schedule planned out for the next day - down to when I will eat lunch, work on Mary Jane's website feature, call John Doe, do some paperwork, and get to the gym. This helps me understand the importance of time. When every single time-slot on my calendar is filled, and something comes up, I'm forced to ask myself, "is this really more important than that?" Most of the time, the answer is a resounding "no". But without a strict schedule, it's tougher to say "no"; you have no sense of what's at stake.
In addition, I have rules and boundaries for myself, based on my weaknesses. For example, I better not be sending followup emails (Thing B) before I eat breakfast (Thing A). This is important because I know my weaknesses. I know that if I get to the computer before I eat breakfast, I won't have breakfast till 11. Amazingly, it's far simpler to avoid your weaknesses entirely than to try to change who you are. And the same end goal is accomplished.
In a sense, action triggers are all about thinking of our brains as the parents, and our hearts as the children. When we were young, our parents did everything for us - they scheduled our days, set rules and boundaries, and made sure we stayed on track. Hopefully, anyway. Our adult selves need structure too. Action triggers are a way for us to achieve that. Because as it turns out, us grown-ups have just about as much discipline and self-control as when we were children. Without structure, we're lost.
Schedule Your Priorities
Posted by Anthony
One of my favorite quotes is courtesy of Stephen R. Covey, who is best known for writing The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."
Too often, whether in business or life, we reach the end of a week and wonder where all the hours went. There are three main rules I use to help maximize my hours in any given week:
1. Remember that you control your schedule.
Granted, things come up, and certain unplanned events will inevitably require your attention. But many to-dos and events are simply byproducts of guilt -- the inability to say "no". In business, it's important to know what you stand for, and what makes your product/service great. Knowing those things will give you the confidence you need to say "no" to any clients/requests that require you to go outside of that scope. And in life, we are constantly bombarded by social events and commitments, most of which we get roped into out of guilt. While I'm not advocating aggravating your clients, family or friends, it's important to become a bit more selfish if you feel that you are constantly pleasing everybody but yourself, and rarely accomplishing your goals.
2. It is important to start somewhere.
Break down your goals into milestones, and then into even smaller to-dos. Think like a baseball player. Remember that the first step to a World Series is 6 months of momentum. If you play the game right day in and day out, and are able to learn from both the small victories and the small losses, you will eventually win big.
3. Minimize distractions (don't multi-task)
Multi-tasking actually decreases productivity, and increases stress. And with life today about as fast-paced as its ever been - between all the calls, texts, emails, social media pings, and "ASAP" items that come up - it's no wonder we feel like we've totally lost control.
You are only truly of value to anybody, including yourself, if you are giving your all to the current moment. So remind yourself to use your blinders a bit more often and block out the unnecessary distractions. Everybody will be happier for it.