HABIT

Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement

Atomic Habits by James Clear

What does your typical day look like?

Do you start with coffee and cigarette like me? Do you have breakfast with your family or by yourself? What happens afterward? Do you fall victim to the things that happen around you? What do you do each day?

The things that we do every moment of our lives, even the tiniest thing, are all being added up, and compounded, to become the person we want to be. Any good habits like exercising or eating heathy foods or bad habits like drinking and smoking takes all combines together and make us a different person.

For example, working out daily, even for 30 minutes a day, would definitely make you healthier than you are now. Those movements that you do trains the body to become stronger because you are training it and telling it that you need your muscles to move. In effect, your body adjusts to the stress of working out and make you look better, feel better, stronger.

Another example is reading. If you read as little as 5-10 pages a day, or maybe have a timer of 30 minutes a day, you will finish a book in a month. You’ll also gain additional knowledge and understanding of the world around you. You become a better person because you know more than you used to.

Sometimes we always look at the end goal. Become fit so we look good in clothes. After that, you go back to your old routine of eating and no exercise, then you do it again. Or even at work when we procrastinate and do our tasks very close to the deadline. In effect, we get stressed out and make mistakes.

I will cite Infinite Game by Simon Sinek here again which I mentioned in my other blog entitled “Resilient”. The goal is not to win the game, it is too keep playing the game. Our habits enable us to keep playing the game. Our aim should be to consistently do what we are doing like exercising or reading a book or doing that report as these small things compound and make us all become a different person.

It is more doable to do simple things instead of doing big things because we get overwhelmed and knowing that, we tend to procrastinate or just give up.

When I want to become something, what I do is study what I must do to become that person. For example, I want to look good in clothes and be strong. That is the goal. My goal is not to lose weight or to be thin. I want to become a person that do not worry about how my clothes will look on me and be able to lift my wife and kids whenever they want me to carry them.

For me to do that, I need regular exercise. And for me to sustain that, I need to have a workout routine that I know I can do. So, that’s what I did. I developed a routine that I want and in effect, I can wear my clothes the way I like them without worrying about my belly and I can carry my wife and daughters just like how princesses should be.

Habits are powerful tools that we can use to become a better person or achieve want we want. Focus on sustainability. If you know you can’t sustain fasting or running or depriving yourself of that cake, then find another way.

When you want to become someone, find what you can sustain. You will eventually become the person you want to be.

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Reflecting on our daily routines, we often find ourselves caught in a cycle of habits that shape our existence. Whether it’s the morning ritual of sipping coffee and lighting a cigarette, or the solitude of breakfast, each action sets the tone for the day ahead. The quiet moments spent alone or the bustling interactions with family members are not mere occurrences; they are the building blocks of our character.

As we navigate through the hours, we are not mere bystanders to the events that unfold. Our daily deeds, no matter how insignificant they may seem, accumulate and mold us into the individuals we aspire to be. It is the sum of these actions—our good habits, like regular exercise and healthy eating, as well as our vices, such as indulging in alcohol or tobacco—that converge to redefine us.

Consider the transformative power of exercise: a mere 30 minutes of physical activity each day can significantly enhance your health. This commitment to movement trains your body to adapt and grow stronger, responding to the demands you place upon it. The result is a physique that not only looks better but feels more robust and resilient.

Similarly, the habit of reading, even if it’s just a few pages or a half-hour each day, can have a profound impact. This simple practice can lead you through the pages of a book each month, expanding your knowledge and comprehension of the world. With every page turned, you evolve into a more informed and insightful individual.

Yet, it’s easy to become fixated on the ultimate objective, such as achieving a fit physique to enhance our appearance in clothing. However, once this goal is reached, there’s a tendency to revert to old habits, abandoning exercise and mindful eating until the cycle begins anew. This pattern is mirrored in our professional lives, where procrastination leads to last-minute rushes to meet deadlines, resulting in stress and errors.

Drawing inspiration from Simon Sinek’s “Infinite Game,” which I’ve previously referenced in my blog “Resilient,” it’s clear that the aim isn’t merely to win but to continue playing. Our habits are the very essence that sustains our participation in life’s ongoing game. By consistently engaging in activities like exercising, reading, or completing work reports, we allow these small, consistent efforts to compound into significant personal growth.

The beauty lies in the simplicity of these actions. When faced with grand tasks, we often succumb to overwhelm, leading to procrastination or abandonment. Yet, by focusing on manageable, sustainable habits, we can achieve our aspirations without the paralyzing fear of failure.

When envisioning the person I wish to become, I delve into the necessary steps to embody that identity. For instance, my desire isn’t merely to lose weight or attain a slender figure; I aim to be someone who confidently wears any attire and possesses the strength to lift my loved ones effortlessly. To realize this vision, I’ve crafted a workout routine tailored to my capabilities, ensuring its longevity. This personalized regimen has allowed me to dress without concern for my appearance and to carry my wife and daughters as the cherished individuals they are.

Habits are indeed potent instruments in our quest for self-improvement and the fulfillment of our desires. The key is to concentrate on what is sustainable. If fasting, running, or forgoing that slice of cake seems untenable, then it’s imperative to discover an alternative path.

In the pursuit of personal transformation, it’s essential to identify practices that you can maintain over time. By doing so, you will inevitably evolve into the person you yearn to be. Through the lens of sustainability, we can harness the power of habits to sculpt our future selves—one small, consistent step at a time.