> Every small win is motivating. Every small win builds momentum. Momentum energizes.
Starting small is an unreasonably good way to hack your brain. A book called "Tiny Habits" describes a system of behavior modification based on the idea:
It gives the example of flossing. Instead of resolving to floss every night, resolve to floss one single tooth every night. It takes less than five seconds. As you take on the habit, it becomes easier to expand it. Starting big in contrast is a good way to fall off the wagon.
One of the book's key insights is that the new habit you want to take on needs an anchor - something else you already do habitually that will precede your new habit.
You can pick up any new tiny habit, but you need to attach it to something you already do habitually. This will be the trigger without which no new behavior can stick.
In the case of flossing, that anchor could be brushing your teeth. So if you don't regularly do that, you might want to start there by brushing your teeth every day for five seconds. You could anchor that to the finishing dinner. Or getting out of the shower.
Something I’ve learnt about fitness recently, and particularly recovery from injury, is that you have to push your body very very very slowly up. Much more slowly than I ever thought was necessary. And too much, back off. Gently gently catch the monkey.
Is it that you’ve discovered the mental equivalent of this attitude to physical training?
Starting small is an unreasonably good way to hack your brain. A book called "Tiny Habits" describes a system of behavior modification based on the idea:
https://www.tinyhabits.com
It gives the example of flossing. Instead of resolving to floss every night, resolve to floss one single tooth every night. It takes less than five seconds. As you take on the habit, it becomes easier to expand it. Starting big in contrast is a good way to fall off the wagon.
One of the book's key insights is that the new habit you want to take on needs an anchor - something else you already do habitually that will precede your new habit.
You can pick up any new tiny habit, but you need to attach it to something you already do habitually. This will be the trigger without which no new behavior can stick.
In the case of flossing, that anchor could be brushing your teeth. So if you don't regularly do that, you might want to start there by brushing your teeth every day for five seconds. You could anchor that to the finishing dinner. Or getting out of the shower.
And so on.