3 Tiny Habits - reinvent yourself with motivation

New Year's resolutions, a new me, financially responsible, fit, slim and organised...  By January 20 will I be one of the 80% of resolution makers who fail, or will I make it through to September and be one of th 92%?

Thomas Pychyl's attributes this failure to us being unprepared to change habits, particularly bad habits.  He uses the beautiful description of 'cultural procrastination' to describe our annual stampede towards reinvention.

Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to particpate in B.J. Fogg's research into behaviour change through the 3 Tiny Habits process. Through his work at Stanford's Persuasive Technology lab he has identified 3 factors that will cause long term behaviour change:

Option A. Have an epiphany
Option B. Change your context (what surrounds you)
Option C. Take baby steps

3 Tiny Habits

3 Tiny Habits started for me as an option C, but actually evolved into Option A.  Basically you comit to make 3 tiny changes a day with each one requiring no more than 30 seconds.  You choose a trigger in your day - may be getting up, having a coffee or cooking dinner, and then fit your new habits in after one of these regular habits.

The committment is minimal, but the experience is powerful, motivating and exciting.  Successfully doing 3 new things each day with minimal impact to the day made me feel like superwoman.  

My usual experience of motivation to change is a burst of enthusiasm, followed by failure.  It's got to the point where I expect to fail.  Using 3 Tiny Habits made me feel like I could change and inspired me to continue.  This year, my only New Year's resolution was to make 3 Tiny habits each week.  I've committed to mixing new and ongoing habits, and somehow I've started to tame my challenges with work/life balance, fitness etc. 

I feel motivated, powerful and successful, instead of bumbly, hopeless and on a highway to failure.

3 Tiny Habits at work

In my day job as a CX Designer at NAB I'm looking at how we can use 3 Tiny Habits to support change.  If it can do this for me - a serial procrastinator - what could it do to say, capability development at work, pursuit of excellence etc.  

Give it a go - it's fun and it works!

 

Comments

[Halelly]

Great idea, thanks for sharing!

[Ash Donaldson]

I love the idea of making a habit out of forming mindful habits

[Nadine_mcmahon]

Really like this idea, will be thinking of trying to incorporate! Thanks!

[Supply Chain Networking]

at NAB I'm looking at how we can use 3 Tiny Habits to support change. If it can do this for me - a serial procrastinator - what could it do to say, capability development at work, pursuit of excellence etc.

[postcard printing]

Resolutions are good i always make its good only for only take oath and beyond that it is nothing that my resolutions always 70 % failed my mother used to say that why don't you do what you say.I don't know how these 3 little things can change your life and i can only try to incorporate with your ideas. Thanks.

[Hitch Mounted Bike Carriers]

Wao.. you did a fantastic job, its really a nice informative information, you give us great idea, if we apply this in our daily life then we will become the most successful person in the earth. Thanks for sharing it such a nice information, hope you will share much more in near future.

[brochure printing]

I love the idea of making a habit and all it farming mindful habits. It is really nice information, you give us a great ideas. I don't know how these three little things can change your life and i can only try to incorporate with you ideas. Thanks for sharing.

[Dell laptop chargers]

Great idea, Really I like the idea of making a habit and all it farming mindful and will be thinking of trying to incorporate!

[social media networking]

Great info. I always like to get information on the motivational talks and inspiration stories. It help me to be motivated in my success way.