The most efficient routine in the world is worthless if you don’t do it.
Consistency is everything.
An average workout 3 days a week beats a great workout once a week.
Studying 15 minutes a day beats a 5 hour cram session.
And to be consistent, you need to be able to persist.
In fact some believe persistence is most important,
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
―Calvin Coolidge
So how do we stay consistent? How do we persist through the inevitable challenges we’ll face?
We make it fun.
When we were kids we’d play for hours without getting tired.
And even as adults, when we find something we really enjoy it’s almost impossible to pull us away from it.
And while not everything can be as enjoyable as our favorite video game or Netflix show, we can make almost anything more fun.
Cleaning is more fun if you play music, or listen to an interesting podcast.
Or if you want to read more, choose a book you’re excited to read.
(Too many people slog through a book they think they’re supposed to read, only to quit halfway through.)
Now of course there’s a time and place for persisting when things are hard, (things can’t ALWAYS be fun).
But whenever I fall off a habit, or on days I REALLY don’t feel like doing it, I focus on making it fun.
When I’m struggling to read, I put my psychology or philosophy book down and I read some relaxing fiction, or a short article.
When I’m struggling to get to the gym, I do a short workout of just my favorite movements.
Doing this makes it more fun, and keeps me in the habit.
Fun and excitement will get you a lot farther than discipline and willpower. The person who’s truly passionate about guitar will play 8 hours a day. The disciplined person who doesn’t enjoy it can MAYBE do half of that.
Whenever possible, find a way to make your habits more fun.
Tap into the power of play we all understood as children, and you’ll not only get more done, but enjoy the journey more too.
— J.