On Personal Productivity and Tiny Habits
A couple months ago a friend recommended a book to me called Tiny Habits.
It seems intuitive that everything that is big first comes from small. Not only true for classic startups that begin as 1 or 2-man operation in garages; or investment companies started with a small sum of capital (see: Berkshire Hathaway). Not as intuitive: it seems to also be the case with behaviour.
After reading the book and learning about how to build habits, my conclusion is that most people severely underestimates the power of Tiny.
I have found the book to be useful in helping me be more productive, so I thought I'd share my three key takeaways:
1. Clarity first: to find an answer you must first know what the question or problem is. The lack of action may sometimes come from lack of clarity, eg. "I don't really know what I want", "I don't know where to start", or for some the worst one "I don't know what to do". But as long as you have some direction, sometimes that is all that is required. The unconscious mind is powerful, but it can only do so much. To put things onto paper can be a powerful and clarifying process.
2. 'Tiny' is (probably) the answer': Once there is some aspiration (can be generic, eg. get better sleep). There is a simple method for breakdown the *exact* reasons why certain things have not been put into action. For example, once there is an aspiration,
The process includes:
- Writing down a simple aspiration (eg. get better sleep)
- Brainstorming 10-15 activities you could do to achieve the aspiration (eg. exercise during the day)
- Ranking each of the activities by "how effective it is to achieving the aspiration" and "how easy is it for me to do"
- To start off, put your power and energy into the activities that ranks highly on both, and grow them from there
- If certain activities would be "effective" but "hard to do", it is usually due to one of the few common reasons (time, money, physical effort, mental effort, routine). Once you figure out what it is, you can try to MAKE IT TINY. For example, if don't have enough time to go for a 30min jog? Do 5 minutes instead. Don't have 5 minutes? Just put on your running shoes and take them off (seriously). You can always make your action tinier. No excuses. The point, I believe, is to build some forward momentum.
The point is not to stay Tiny, but start with Tiny.
Of course, this has obvious parallels in startup and investment theory: 'if you product is perfect it is too late', 'compound growth rate is the 8th wonder of the world', '+1% per week is +68% over a year'. Concept of MVP.
From then on, you can grow. Make it a habit. And when it's a bit too easy/unstimulating, up the habit. 10 push ups each session too easy? Do 15 push ups. You get the idea.
3. Celebrate: Tiny Habits swears by 'celebrating' (literally have a quick celebration, with yourself every time and immediately after you do something good). Positivity is built in to the method. I don't know whether it's through coincidence that Tiny Habits and The Secret (cult favourite) sometimes converge at the very similar conclusions. The Secret, for example, encourages people to act, speak and think as though you already received what you've asked for (solidifying beliefs, in a way). Tiny Habits, on the other hand, encourages celebrations, and starting the day with thinking-out-loud "It's going to be a great day!". It's not stupid if it works. Worth trying out.
That's it! Hope you found this article interesting and will cause you to think about building some tiny habits!
