As happens in January, I'm on some weird self-improvement kick. I mean creative and mental self-improvement, as I regard my new exercising as something critical to my survival, and not a version of self-improvement at all.
I've got about 15-20 tabs open in my browser (Chrome, natch) from the website Zen Habits. I've also got a few from Life Learning Today. They're mostly focused on HOW TO MAKE YOUR LIFE X. Want "better?" Want "frugal?" Want "fit?" Want "peaceful?" Want "productive?" Want "romantic?" Want "happy?" "Want "spiritual?" It's all there, and more! In 10 steps, 42 hacks, and three simple secrets.
Every time I fall down this rabbit hole (and it happens more than I'd like) I marvel at this whole world of life-hackery that I forget exists. There are people who have made their lives and fortunes teaching this stuff to others. I don't begrudge them that, but I'm realizing some things this time around. For example: like exercise, the only plan that's going to work is the one I'll keep doing. And I haven't found such an animal yet. And: like taking off weight that took years/decades to pile on, there's no quick fix. Being disorganized and inattentive to my own productivity and personal/creative fulfillment for 40+ years means it's probably going to take longer than 14 days of "setting my goals" to overcome the inertia. However, lastly, I've recently discovered a secret that might make it work for me this time.
When I travel back in time in my mind to my pre-vegetarian days, I can admit I would describe veganism in terms that are fairly negative. Deprivation, austere, boring, rigidity, restricting, etc. But fast forward to now, I know that it's none of those things. It can be hard, but it's not the veganism that's hard, it's being vegan in an unfriendly world that's hard. Otherwise it's peace and liberation. And easy peasy.
So, how does relate to my inability to keep ahead of the laundry or make a work schedule I can stick to? When I think about how I feel about "organizing for productivity" I would describe it as depriving (of my right to do what I want when I want), austere or boring or rigid (lacking spontaneity), restricting and inflexible. But what I'm starting to suspect is that if I can do it in a way that I can keep doing it, I will find peace and liberation on the other side.
I'm embarrassed to be the age I am and not know how to do this. But I'm also getting to the age where I actually stop caring what others think of what I do, and will commence wearing frivolous hats any day now.
I found a technique that I like, and I'm going to implement. It's called The Amazing Power of One . I think I can do this. It suggests I write down all my goals, rank them in order of importance, and the create action steps for the first one. Then, over the course of the week, do one step each day. Do this for as long as it takes to make an ongoing goal into a habit, or to complete a finite goal. Once either of those things happens, move on to the next goal. Repeat: create actions steps for the next goal on the list, do one action step each day for the one goal, finish or incorporate as habit, move on to the next goal.
That seems doable! That way, if my goal list numbers 3 or 300, I will work through them. It may take a loooong time, but what are the odds of my ever making progress on a nebulous cloud of undefined self-improvement inclinations right now? Small odds, that's what they are. They're pretty slim. If I can do this technique, I'll be miles ahead, And if I start achieving some small successes and discover, as I predict, that the water is fine, I imagine it will get even easier.
Here I go! Wait, should I list my goals here? That seems scary and like the kiss of death to this. I'll think on that.
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