Change is hard. If you’ve got to do something hard, why not make it as easy as possible? Life isn’t a test to see who can do the hardest things the fastest with the maximum amount of effort.
When you get inspired to make changes it’s very tempting to make them all at once. Sometimes, if you’re following a detailed system such as a new diet, changing everything at once actually is the way to go (provided that the plan has a well thought out support system behind it).
But if you’re creating a customized program of personal productivity, your changes will probably stick better if you introduce them one at a time. This is particularly true if the habits you want to change are ingrained, i.e., you hardly are aware of the behavior.
Picking one change to make at a time also means you can keep track of how you’re doing more easily and you can see more clearly what impact that change is having. You can play with it and try different things to find the best fit. You can see if it doesn’t work at all the way you wanted and reject it.
Once the new change is integrated into your routine, pick another thing to change. Build on your success.
Greetings, Claire! It was great talking to you yesterday!
I have been in the deep process of change right now, just finishing a 30 detox cleanse (changing my diet) and it inspired me to make other changes in my life as well. I am not sure that waiting until a change is completely integrated would have been the best for me, but rather making changes that are related, rather than trying to make all kinds of different changes is what seems to be working.
Thanks as always for your helpful insights!
warmly,
Jessica
Posted by: Jessica Duquette | August 17, 2006 9:17 AM | Permalink to Comment