Record and repeat your habits

What do I really want to accomplish this year? If you’ve taken a peak at my goals, I’m trying to focus on actionable steps every day.

You are what you repeat.

Some of my logs are easier to contribute to than others. It’s easy for me to record exercise because I value moving my body and find creative ways to get steps in. For example, I love to walk and talk. How can I apply this strategy of habit pairing to other goals? Or simply grinding to get ‘er done?

Quality of life also means seeing value.

I want to work on my goals every day, but I also want to enjoy each day. If I know what I truly like, then I should focus on them, like I do with exercise. This discernment is a gift. But so is living in the moment, what scientists call savoring.

I’ve always struggled with carpe diem. In college, I scheduled my day with color-coded speadsheets. I thought the more I stuffed into the day, the more I could accomplish. Which is true. But I was also running away. I didn’t have self-work.

Success isn’t always satisfying, emotionally.

My current habits often scratch the physical urge to keep moving. But now I’m working on mental habits too:

• This is the first year I’ve added meditation to my habit list, attempting to make it daily practice.
• This is the first year I’ve been completely transparent on a bucket list item: writing a book.
• This is the first time I truly feel I’m documenting my LIFE as a #WIP… And embracing it!

If you want goals to happen, you can use qualifiers: is this something I value?

If quality of life isn’t about quantity, then it’s about adding value.

If most adults have must-dos like making money and having health, then creatives and entrepreneurs can add value to others by showing more ways to make a life well lived. That’s a hefty responsibility. But I’m interested!

But this also forms agency. I want to have freedom to express myself (writing the book). Freedom of time (choosing exercise every day). Freedom of continual learning (taking classes online). Freedom to give back (the food pantry, my alma mater, fellow creatives). And while those may seem physical in nature, they are very emotional goals because they are values-based.

So, I ask you, how can you add or delight in what you already do?