I enjoyed reading this Zan—you did a great a job of distilling some big ideas here. I also love the way you spaced your paragraphs, making for a clear reading experience. Creative use of the editor and very well executed. Keep it coming, and thanks for the mention!
Brilliant post Zan. I’d never considered that creating good habits is not a direct inverse of stopping bad habits, but you framed it brilliantly! Thank you for the mention and The Midnight Library is a brilliant book recommendation. One of my favourites!
Thanks Dylan - yeah it was something that annoyed me about James Clears approach in Atomic Habits - it just didn't work for me. It's a great book! Have you read any other Matt Haig?
The Comfort Book sits at the front of my bookshelf and I revisit it whenever I need a little pick-me-up. I definitely need to read the rest of his books. Have you read any others?
You so beautifully capture the only way out of the burnout I kept falling victim to! One foot in front of the next and not thinking any further ahead than my next best step. Love the way you express this, Zan! Thanks for the shout out!
Thanks for the shoutout about the book Zan! And you’re so right about habits how they can either take you one step closer or one step further away from your goals… so better choose wisely 💫
Such amazing but underrated advice: "Now that you are here and awake, it’s time to turn off autopilot. Start setting the most humiliatingly small goals, and reach them."
Momentum is key. Start small and build. Great writing, Zan. Loved this post.
I found that doing those little things really builds. I started with straightening in the kitchen for the few minutes that it took my food to heat up, or the tea water to boil. So simple, but then my kitchen became more manageable. It got easier from there.
Yes I'm exactly the same! Whenever I'm not doing too great - just a small tidy is the first step to getting out of that funk. Always gets easier from there.
Thanks for the motivation, Zan. I totally agree. Being able to change bad habits requires scrutinizing every detail of why you have that habit and a conscious effort to replace it. Habits, good or bad, are mostly unconscious behaviors that we do on impulse. Thanks for making me think about this again and motivate to change some of my bad habits! Such as distracting myself on my phone when I’m stuck on writing….
The roaring impulse to seek short-term pleasure is perfectly described. It is not just a roaring impulse, but an itch, a voice with the constant reminder to do exactly just what harms you. And what's worse, how fast time goes by doing these impulses. The same half an hour on the phone won't feel like the same half an hour of chores, yet these impulses must be resisted all the same. Thanks for the mention and the great advice!
I love the idea of your impulses watching you from the sidelines while you take control.. until they shrivel away. Such a powerful image.
Thank you Rose 🌹
Same! Came to write exactly that. Thank you for taking the words out of my mouth, Rose.
I enjoyed reading this Zan—you did a great a job of distilling some big ideas here. I also love the way you spaced your paragraphs, making for a clear reading experience. Creative use of the editor and very well executed. Keep it coming, and thanks for the mention!
Thanks teacher! Appreciate the feedback - I just feel like the standard "new line" space on substack is not quite clear enough!
Yes - why does doing 20 minutes of exercise per day feel so difficult and easy to put off until tomorrow!
I know right! Thanks for reading :)
Brilliant post Zan. I’d never considered that creating good habits is not a direct inverse of stopping bad habits, but you framed it brilliantly! Thank you for the mention and The Midnight Library is a brilliant book recommendation. One of my favourites!
Thanks Dylan - yeah it was something that annoyed me about James Clears approach in Atomic Habits - it just didn't work for me. It's a great book! Have you read any other Matt Haig?
The Comfort Book sits at the front of my bookshelf and I revisit it whenever I need a little pick-me-up. I definitely need to read the rest of his books. Have you read any others?
Oh nice ill put that next on my list! Nope this was the first of his books that I read
You so beautifully capture the only way out of the burnout I kept falling victim to! One foot in front of the next and not thinking any further ahead than my next best step. Love the way you express this, Zan! Thanks for the shout out!
That's it Justine - 1 step at a time! Thanks 🙏
Getting rid of bad habits is the highest form of self-awareness.
Hit the nail on the head. It's all about shedding the layers. Thanks Denis 🙏
This is great. Love the micro goals, really resonated with me.
Glad it resonated with you! It really works
Highly recommend Midnight Library on Audible, read by Carey Mulligan. Carey brings Nora to life. It's my favourite book.
I'll have to have a re-listen!
Thanks for the shoutout about the book Zan! And you’re so right about habits how they can either take you one step closer or one step further away from your goals… so better choose wisely 💫
Congrats Elin! So inspiring. Glad you enjoyed this 🙏
Thank you for this! It’s excellent, and so actionable.
Thanks Yamuna! Glad you enjoyed it
Such amazing but underrated advice: "Now that you are here and awake, it’s time to turn off autopilot. Start setting the most humiliatingly small goals, and reach them."
Momentum is key. Start small and build. Great writing, Zan. Loved this post.
Thanks for the support Jack 🙏 Glad you enjoyed it :)
I found that doing those little things really builds. I started with straightening in the kitchen for the few minutes that it took my food to heat up, or the tea water to boil. So simple, but then my kitchen became more manageable. It got easier from there.
Yes I'm exactly the same! Whenever I'm not doing too great - just a small tidy is the first step to getting out of that funk. Always gets easier from there.
Insightful piece, Zan. “…breaking bad habits is not the mirror image of making good habits” resonates
Thanks Jeff! Yeah I feel like that's an under-appreciated thing - so glad you resonate with it
Thanks for the motivation, Zan. I totally agree. Being able to change bad habits requires scrutinizing every detail of why you have that habit and a conscious effort to replace it. Habits, good or bad, are mostly unconscious behaviors that we do on impulse. Thanks for making me think about this again and motivate to change some of my bad habits! Such as distracting myself on my phone when I’m stuck on writing….
Thanks Jacob! Hahah I feel like not many of us are immune to the odd doomscroll when we reach a writer's block!
Welcome back Zan
Thank you Kevin, good to be back 🙏
Excellent article.
Thanks for experimenting so meticulously, and then sharing. The proof is in the pudding.
Well done.
Appreciate your support!
The roaring impulse to seek short-term pleasure is perfectly described. It is not just a roaring impulse, but an itch, a voice with the constant reminder to do exactly just what harms you. And what's worse, how fast time goes by doing these impulses. The same half an hour on the phone won't feel like the same half an hour of chores, yet these impulses must be resisted all the same. Thanks for the mention and the great advice!
That's such an eloquent way of putting it - any time Scholar!