Today marks the 500th day that I’ve started my day writing.
A handful of days, the writing had to happen at a different time, but mostly it’s been the morning.
The rules have been simple – one page a day on personal development topics.
About 325 of the posts have been published at LoriSullivan and around 50 at OneShadeGreener.
My Perspective – Lessons from a Daily Habit
As I look back at the 500 days, I see lessons we can all take if we are looking to start a habit.
Make it Non-Negotiable: Even when tired or “not in the mood” – make it happen. Some days the content flowed smoothly, while other days the struggle was real. Through the ups and downs, I just keep writing knowing that the next day will be different.
Small steps Make a Big Difference: When I started, I had no content. I thought I would never have a library of thoughts to pull from – now I do. The saying is true: we often overestimate what we can accomplish in a week and underestimate what can be achieved in a year.
Discover Interests: With a daily habit like this one, I’m also discovering topics that interest me and I want to dive further into. To name a few to illustrate the point: the eight dimensions of wellbeing, the Hope Equation, energy management, and portfolio careers. I can imagine the same thing would happen with other habits like reading, healthy eating, and the arts.
Find Your Flow Channel: This last one is thanks to a podcast I listened to this morning. The focus was on the concept of the Flow Channel. This suggests that we need to reach just beyond our comfort zone – the 4% challenge. This project keeps me in that zone. While the daily habit isn’t challenging, the content is. By moving around, learning, and writing about new insights, the 4% is always there.
Your Turn
Do you have a habit that is going to hit a milestone?
How could you spend some time reflecting on what lessons it has provided?
Does this post inspire you to start a new habit?
What can you imagine?
My suggestion – just start!