I’ve learned it’s necessary to write down your problems but that is not sufficient in establishing new habits (and fixing old habits). It makes it obvious but you have to make it attractive, easy, and satisfying as well. Actionability is the key.
- Make it obvious-visible: what gets measured gets managed. Understand the context wherein your certain habit is triggered, and make that causation as clear as possible. It’s also the essence of enlightenment and analysis. You need clear feedbacks. It’s easy to tell if you suck at riding a bicycle, but for swimming the water can dampen the feedback. You want to get rid of the water.
- Make it attractive: belong where your desired habits are the norm. Related mental models are Pavlovian association and social proof.
- Make it easy: follow the Two-Minute rule. It’s similar to how interface should follow the principle of least astonishment. Get your incentives right from the beginning.
- Make it satisfying: align your short-term reward with your long-term vision. Use compounding to your advantage.
I have stupid-decisions-I’ve-made folder and all my stupid decisions are written down. But my girlfriend knew better. She said, “What’s the point of it? You just write them down—but not doing anything about it!”
For example, when I pick tank tops for my pajama I wake up cold. I took note of that. And told her I will also put a note in the bedroom saying “Don’t go to bed with tank tops.” But she told me to buy nice pajamas, and place them on the bed everyday. She knows better.
Ask ‘what would it look life if it were easy and fun?’—instead of figuring out how to be self-disciplined.