For many of us, when we think of “habits”, we immediately think of those that deserve breaking (such as the one above). However, seldomly do we construct and nurture good habits, those that allow us to climb to the top, to succeed, to become whatever we aspire.
The blog at Productivity501 created a list to help us maintain the habits we do want to harbor.
It can be easily personalized with goals every month and check boxes for each day. The rule of the game here is to maintain a steady stream of checkmarks for each goal. For example, one of my own goals on the list is to post at least once a day on this blog. I can forgive myself if I miss a day. However, if there’s a huge gap across several days, then I know I’m in trouble and should get back to my commitment.
There are many uses for the list, as Productivity501 suggests. One can use it to teach whatever they want their kids to learn (alphabet, reading a book), remind kids to do their chores, and even eliminate the things you don’t want to do. You can download the printable .pdf here, after subscribing to the blog’s RSS feed or email subscription.
Interestingly enough, this method of fostering commitment isn’t new. Lifehacker reports that Jerry Seinfield climbed his way to stardom with a similar method of marking off day on a wall calendar.
He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day. “After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”
“Don’t break the chain.” He said again for emphasis.
Try it out and let me know how it works for you!
[via Productivity501]
