Breaking Bad Habits
Posted in writing on June 23rd, 2009 by andrew mackay – 1 CommentI never have a hard time breaking good habits. I can make those disappear with a day or two of simply not trying.
The bad, time wasting ones creep in just as easily, but eradicating them can be much tougher. I’m not going to even endeavour to help you discern which habits are perhaps not the best, but I will tell you some things that seem to be helping me to beat the one I’m fighting. My current target personally is distraction.
1. Change your environment. If you know that sitting in your recliner is an environment in which you will either slack off or fall asleep, don’t sit there while you’re trying to do something serious and be surprised when you slack off or fall asleep.
2. Don’t succumb to distractions. Chances are that Wikipedia page will be just as interesting in an hour as it would be right now.
3. Play music that will help, not distract. For me, this means music I’m familiar with. You can bet 40 Acres by Caedmon’s Call and The Morning by Andrew Osenga will be in heavy rotation while I’m trying to be productive.
4. Allow yourself a break after 45 minutes. There’s a reason your high school periods were about that long. Walk it off. Drink some coffee. Stand up. Move. Then come back and hit it again.
These are some ways that are currently working for me. Hope they’re helpful.
