Posts tagged habit

It’s March 1st, which means it is time for a new habit! I’ll post a Habit #1 wrap-up later. For this habit, I’ll be reading a book every two weeks. I’ve already started reading every day again, so this habit should be easy to follow through on, and very enjoyable.

Right now I’m reading Seth Godin’s Linchpin as well as Tim Ferris’ 4-Hour Workweek. Both are good reads for those interested in doing their own ‘thing.’

Here’s a little update on how my early rising is going. I’ve only overslept (by half an hour) once! That’s pretty big for me. Even on weekends I’ve been getting up around 8:30AM. I’ve been feeling so much more productive, and I’ve felt a lot less apathetic than usual.

The next phase of my early rising habit is to start pushing back my weekend wake up time. So this weekend it’ll be 8:15AM. I think if I can get on the same schedule every day, it’ll help me stick with it.

Up next will probably be morning meditation and prayer. With this little bit of extra time I’ve made, it’ll be a lot easier.

The first habit I’m going to form in 2010 is early rising. I don’t know about you, but the days when I do get up early (usually am forced to) I enjoy the day much more. Getting up in the wee hours always calms me down, even before the stresses of the day have a chance to set in. It really is the best way to start the day.

My problem is that I am a night owl by nature. I can be very productive when working late-night, but most of the time I’m just watching a movie, some TV, or playing video games. I have a philosophy of not doing homework after 11 PM, unless under extraordinary circumstances. I’d rather take a hit on a few points here and there than burn out completely.

Here’s my plan so far: I will be rising by no later than 9 AM on weekdays (I do have classes most days of the week at 9:25, so this will force me to, anyway), and 10 AM on the weekends. The weekends will be the hard part. I know what you non-college-aged Adults are thinking “9 AM isn’t even early!” I agree, but college has killed my standards of time. 9 AM is early for me. Getting up anytime before I have to usually feels early.

I’m going to try to find some incentive for getting up earlier, whether it be actually eating breakfast for a change, meditating, reading my bible or some other material, or even writing. It’s going to be hard for me, because no matter how determined I am the night before to get up early, I have the ability to rationalize anything when my alarm is going off. I’m going to need some accountability.

That’s where you come in.

Whether I know your or you have just happened on my site, I welcome your help! I’ll let you know when I excel and when I fail, and I want you to demand transparency. I’d appreciate any and all help from you guys.

Here’s to a new year, and new habits.