How to Build Habits That Last

On Ep. 11 of the Your Career Story podcast, we're talking all about habits that will transform your productivity at work. I'm an Enneagram 3 so productivity and efficiency are my love languages, but this conversation I had with our guest TJ Loeffler really transformed the way I think about building habits and mindset around productivity.

I highly recommend checking out the podcast, but in the meantime I want to talk a little bit about building habits - and how to keep them.

For the sake of this post, let’s say the habit you’re trying to build is spending more time in your Bible each day, even when work feels overwhelming. (Did you know we have a devotional to help you through this?.)

CREATE SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS

It’s really hard to go from zero to 100. And that kinda acceleration in effort leads to burnout and apathy. This is the summer of rest, so you don’t want your restful things to be stressing you out! That’s not the point.

Here's a short term goal:

Read a page from the Jesus Calling devotional book during my subway commute.

Here's a long term goal:

Wake up an hour before I need to start getting ready, make coffee, journal, pray, and follow the Bible in a Year plan.

Goals evolve over time depending on your season of life and what becomes a priority.

START SMALL & EASY

If you hired a personal trainer, they aren’t going to start you with a 300lb back squat with the Olympic bar. (I mean you can, but good luck not killing your back!) You’re going to start with bodyweight squats. Think of your willpower like a muscle. It needs an exercise plan that starts small and progresses over time. When you start, make the goal something that is really easy to do and doesn’t have a large barrier to entry.

For example:

The Jesus Calling devotional is already written out for you day-by-day. It’s a small book and you only have to read one page a day. Easy! And by scheduling it during my commute (or lunch break), I’m not fighting a barrier of an earlier alarm clock. It’s time that I’d be awake anyways probably playing on my phone.

I know I'm someone who wants to GO BIG or GO HOME. But when building habits, this is not the time to be a martyr. Make it easy on yourself.

GIVE YOUR WILLPOWER A WORKOUT PROGRAM

As your willpower grows in strength, you can push yourself harder and harder, making small increases over time.

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For the full article...head on over to the blog.

Check out the Your Career Story podcast here.