Every person alive has had resolutions that they wanted to live up to. Some want to gain weight and some want to lose. Some tell it to themselves on every new year’s Eve, that this year is going to be different. But 5 years down the line, nothing ever changes.
Humans have a very funny approach to procrastination. You either end up doing it now or not doing it at all. Tomorrow is a day that never arrives on time. Now is the only way to overcome laziness and achieve the tiny things that you really want to accomplish in life.
Here are some life-changing habits that you can add to your daily routine to make a difference.
Perform tasks with the 1-minute rule
Gretchen Rubin, Author of “The Happiness Project” writes:
“One simple way to stay on top of things is to take care of tasks that take less than a minute to complete immediately. This might mean recycling junk mail, hanging up your coat, responding to a text, closing a silverware drawer, or screwing the lid on a jar of peanut butter.”
Makes sense? Left the kitchen counter dirty? Clean it. Have a mail that’s been pending on draft for a week? Send it. Want to visit that place that’s been on your list for a year? Pack your bags and leave. The only way is through.
These small tasks may not seem like it’s a lot, but they can quickly add up and become overwhelming – if you postpone and keep them for tomorrow.
Make your bed
This is the most important rule for any person who follows discipline close to their heart.
Randall Bell, a socio-economist studied the behaviour of successful people for 25 years. In an interview with CNBC TV-18, he said:
“Those who do their chores and keep their living space tidier tend to make more money. And those who make their bed in the morning are up to 206.8 per cent more likely to be millionaires.
Success = a mental clarity about having a daily routine.”
Your brain might say, “Making the bed might take a minute, I will do it later.” But that’s the point. It only takes a minute!
Such small wins help us boost our overall productivity, encouraging us to perceive another task towards perfection.
Follow the 10-second rule
We all have been in situations where we are at a loss for words when posed with a question. We end up fumbling or end up making fun of ourselves. To help this better, one must always follow the 10-second rule before answering any questions.
Whenever someone comes up with a question out of the blue, stay paused for at least 10 seconds. This will give you time to reply appropriately. Being mindful helps you understand the questions better and lets you settle with any emotion that affects your response.
Be grateful for one thing, every day
The way to live life is Yin and Yang: the good and the bad. Good things happen, and bad things occur as well. Clinging on to negativity worsens the situation more than ever. Instead, try to focus on what’s good for you. The neurons in your brain react the same way; it follows a pattern with the thoughts that are formed in your mind. So choose wisely. Take a paper and write 10 things that you are grateful for!
I promise you will have a sound sleep.