Motivation, Habits, And Timeless Advice
I read a piece that someone wrote in January 2019. We were so young then.
Today, I read Niklas Göke’s piece on rational habits.
Lots of things have happened to the world since January of 2019, but I thought I would share how many of his ideas still resonate.
Motivation is not the key to success.
First, he discusses that many people are unsuccessful when it comes to keeping up New Year’s resolutions. He mentions that lack of motivation is often an excuse used to explain the failure.
Now, maybe it’s because I have depressive episodes. Maybe it’s because of one-hundred-million different things. But I am more often than not completely unmotivated. I am dishes piled up in the sink kind of unmotivated. Unpaid bills. Canceled plans. I could go on, but I lack the motivation.
The truth is that I like the idea that motivation does not help a person accomplish goals. (That also means that I cannot use lack of motivation as an excuse to not accomplish goals.)
Action is part of the key to success.
According to Niklas, goals are accomplished through action. Consistent actions are the result of habits. Habits are behaviors that are accomplished consistently, day after day.
Big actions, frantic overnight pushes, long lists, all of these things do not often result in accomplished goals.
And now for a recap of 2021, which was a recap of 2020.
As everyone in the world knows, things slowed down for a bit in 2020. It was a year where many people could take the time to commit to small things and develop new habits. I did not. I was glued to newsfeeds and could not stop stress eating. But, I can slow down now. I can slow down and take the time to create new habits.
If 2022 is anything like the repetitive days of 2020 and 2021, then I have nothing but opportunities to develop new habits without the fear of interruption.
My first step is to find my five strongest habits. Then, I will build on them, for a bit each day.
I might not be motivated, but I am curious. I want to see if this strategy works. The only way to know for sure is to act on it.
Thank you for the timeless advice, Niklas. Hope the past few years have treated you well.
