Week 13: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ROUTINE

Photo Credit: S. Su

SCHEDULE: This week I planned to create an Instagram account for 52 in 52 and read at least one hour about the process of writing a book form Book In A Box. This site gives you a step by step process of writing a book, without writing. I know it sounds counterintuitive but it is quite logical once you read it. 

IMPLEMENTATION: I was able to incorporate the idea that I had learned from earlier weeks about meaningful results being produced in a short amount of time. Although I did have bigger pockets of time this week, life happened and others tasks had to be completed. The key was that I was disciplined and committed to completing the tasks. This reminds me of what Time Ferris mentioned about habits on his 5-Bullet Fridays post,  Tim has a lot of quality information and shares his top 5 on a weekly basis. He said in a post that,

"Practicing key habits when we don’t want to is the most key habit of all." 

LEARNING: This was the first week in about two months where I did not watch a video from the self-publishing website (because I finished them all). I have to admit it was a little harder as each week I knew exactly that I would watch a video and learn from each of the guest speakers. This week I had to choose another task, and although that sounds easy, it was difficult. I did some reflection and saw that the routines that I had set-up to watch the videos were for some reason not incorporated. This caused some frustration, which was misplaced on my wife Meggo (sorry). The more I thought about it, the task itself should not make a difference as I should have a system in place to complete the task, whatever it is. For example, usually I write notes in high traffic areas of the task of the week...not done this week. Many other things came up this week that needed to be completed and those took up the time where I usually watch the video modules. 

This is where the strategies from James Clear came up again. He says to SCHEDULE times for your chosen task, and let that drive you completing them. This is a better option than waiting for motivation, which is sporadic at best, and the right external circumstances to do so. This was a valuable learning, but more important is the application of this knowledge. Below is a list of actions to take to avoid completing tasks in the future.

1. Create a routine where you schedule specific times for you to complete your task. If you think you have no time, then complete a weekly audit and write down how you use your time. You should be able to find some available time to schedule time for YOU to complete your tasks. 

2. Let the schedule drive you completing your tasks, not motivation or the right external circumstances. If everything has to be right, then you will wait forever. 

3. Do not judge your work, create it! I am really bad at this, but improving everyday. It is your job to be consistent and create the work. If you constantly judge it, whatever you are trying to do will never get done. Schedule a time, complete the task, and learn from the process. If you do this consistently then the cumulative effect of what you do on a weekly basis will produce quality results. 

Thanks for tuning in this week and see you next week...J