Priorities #3
When you think of all the best things to do, overwhelm comes easily. Begin with one.
Specifically, think of habits. As the new year approaches, your thoughts may turn to fresh ideas and positive improvements. But before the list grows too long, begin with one.
What one habit could leverage the most important changes for you and your situation? If done daily or several times per week on a consistent basis, would one of the following ideas could add up to greater good over time for you? (Warning: this is a list of many good ideas. Pick one.)
- Begin each day with 5+ minutes of spiritual focus.
- Start each day with 3 gratitudes.
- Do a frugality fast by limiting what you spend on breakfast and lunch.
- Learn daily. Choose a topic, a skill or any area of interest and consistently learn more about it.
- Engage in brain exercise games every day for at least 5 minutes.
- Limit screen time at least 5 days per week.
- Encourage, help or pray for one person each day.
- Do some form of exercise 3-5 days/week for at least 10 minutes.
- Save 10%+ of every dollar that comes your way.
- Create one special outing or experience per week with your beloved.
Which one of these would make a difference for you? What one new idea did these spark for you? Each of these represents a realistic, small step in the right direction. Resist the urge to make goals that are unsustainable or contingent on perfection. Doing a habit 3-5 days per week is much more realistic than 7. Strive for excellence with this one endeavor, but allow for flexibility and some form of accountability.
Over time, small steps turn into great progress and new habits.
Begin with one.
Worth Repeating
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
-Will Durant
