Blogging Habit

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." --Aristotle

I have recently begun to blog everyday, or close to everyday. It's only been a week, or maybe even less. For some reason, over the years, writing has become something of a chore for me, like exercising or cleaning the house. I procrastinate, experience anxiety at times if I create deadlines for myself and have the hardest time to actually get myself to sit down to do it. Yet, almost without fail, every time I actually do get myself to sit down to write or go to the gym to work out or clean my house, I feel successful, at peace, and wonder why it took me such a long time to do what I did and promise myself not to take too long again next time. And then, almost inevitably, the cycle repeats itself.

Perhaps it all comes down to habits: making it a habit to do something and making sure that it becomes part of your daily routine. As they say, it is hard to get rid of habits. According the the dictionary, "habit" is defined as "a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up." I recently read in an article that in order to make something a habit, you should do it for 40 days. However, it is the first 40 days that's always the hardest. This got me thinking and into research mode. 

Luckily, I stumbled on a very useful article titled, "The 3 R's of Habit Change: How to Start New Habits that Actually Stick" by James Clear. 

James Clear, a writer, photographer, and teacher, who regularly writes about the power of habits, gives a precise guide about how to apply habit change to your life by following the "3 R's". The 3 R's include:

Remind. (The trigger that initiate the behavior)

Routine. (The actual behavior or act itself)

Reward. (The benefit you gain from doing the behavior)

The article goes on to discuss that in order to make a new habit, one must come up with a system and apply it every day until eventually it becomes a habit you can't live without. First, you must have a trigger or "Reminder". For instance, in my writing habits, I can make it a habit to write first thing in the morning or right before I brush my teeth to go to sleep. (I am still not sure whether I want to do it first thing in the morning, at the end of the day, or perhaps in the middle). Then, as soon as you set that reminder and are triggered, you must do the "Routine", in my case, I write. 

James emphasizes that it is crucial to start small and eventually build it up. For instance, in my case, perhaps I should work on short posts in the first few days and eventually make them longer and more polished and researched too perhaps. The next step, is to remind yourself of the benefit you have gained from this behavior, the "Reward". In my case, I always do feel the benefit when I write, as I feel that I am getting closer to my goal of practicing my art and improving myself as a writer. It may also be helpful to actually tell yourself words or phrases that show you are giving credit to yourself. For instance, every time you do the small act, you can simply say: "Good job!" or "Victory!" or "Success!" It is important to do this every time you do the act, every day. 

I am determined to practice the "3 R" Habit Change Guide and make writing a habit for myself and as part of my daily routine. Let's see how much of a more determined and disciplined writer I become by the end of this coming week when I do it. 

Here is a diagram that James Clear provided in his article about the process of the "3 R's":