Better Than Yesterday wow the things you mentioned are the very things i want to accomplish (just replace meditation with writing). i expect less from everything except my piano practice (w/c i practice 1 hour or more daily)
6:10 reminds me of "supereasy barely an inconvinience" xD if you dont know this phrase you need some of this :) ua-cam.com/video/DTU4xoVKmPE/v-deo.html just watch one episode (~6mins) then you will know
@@MasterTow1994 I've read both. Atomic habits I feel is 2.0 of mini habits. Both are worth reading or listening to. Just like two points of view on same subject is always a good idea.
Momentum is amazing. If you can get the ball rolling, things just start to snowball. Next thing you know, you have an avalanche of momentum on your side, and you are accomplishing amazing things.👍
THis really helped me as I'm learning JavaScript and had a goal of doing an hour a day - it never happened. So after watching this I'm going to do 10 minutes a day - then I saw your comment and it's really motivated me!!
Consistency beats intensity. I live by the phrase, "doing something is better than doing nothing." 10 mins of exercise is better than 0 mins, 10 mins of studying is better than 0 mins and the list goes on.
I was severely depressed (could barely get out of bed) and started doing this. 3 months later, I am now starting a new business, and my life is thriving in all areas. I use an amazing app (Habits) to help me keep track of my habits; the widget is on my main page, so, it's the first thing I see when I unlock my phone. I have 10 mini habits (5 mins of yoga, 5 mins of cleaning per room, gratitude journal, etc.) You can honestly even do 1 minute or less (think one push up). The point is to keep the habit alive. The trick is to commit to doing it, No. Matter. What.
L. Winter Well done. I did the same but exercise (just doing like 3-15 minutes a day over the summer holidays) and it made me feel so much better about myself. I stopped doing it for a while because I got a job and I felt pretty bad about that but now I’ve started again it’s come back. I think doing little things successfully is a great way for people who aren’t in the best place to start getting some focus, which eventually develops and in a way makes them stronger than those who haven’t gone through stuff like that.
key words "The point is to keep the habit alive. The trick is to commit to doing it, No. Matter. What." Even if it's one pushup a day, it's so much better than only doing 20 pushups once a month. Even if there won't be much of physical improvement, it is much better to train your brain to learn how to be consistent.
This feels like the third Law of Behavioral change: #3. Make it easy (#1. Make it obvious #2. Make it attractive #3. Make it easy #4. Make it satisfying) This is what was concluded from reading “Atomic Habits” of James Clear
I live by mini habits. Thank you for confirming that it's not being unproductive. I'm a writer and the hardest part is starting. That's why my daily goal is simple: just write one paragraph. Usually, more flows out, but all I need is one.
Elliot Chan Hmm ! I will try this. I’ve been battling a lot of self doubt with songwriting and it keeps me from even starting. But I’ll take your advice ! Thanks 🙏🏾
@@Adi-rr1rs , interesting question. For me it happened like he mentioned in the video. For example, I would put for myself the goal of studying for 15 minutes in the beginning. When I got the 15 minutes mark, I'd go on studying and ended up studying 2 hours or so. When the goal is easy, you procrastinate much less, and when you get the goal, the feeling of victory (dopamine) you get makes you keep on working. It's been 2 and half years since I decided using this method. Now, I study about 3 hours everyday (for self improvement, I am not a student anymore), meditate everyday and work out everyday. So I ended up been more productive and disciplined than I have ever been in my life. And for a long period of time.
Meu problema é apenas com o pontapé inicial. Não faz sentido, mas a quantidade de tempo estudando não é o principal problema pra mim, e sim como iniciar tal ação.
I was locked up in depression for weeks . I could find no way out . I,m a painter and clay artist . I didn't want to make a painting that wasn,t a great work of art . That kept me paralyzed and unable to start . Out of desperation I finally began by lowering my expectations and only allowing myself to paint for 5 mins. a day . It sounds ridiculous but working on such a small goal has really helped me . I,ve been going now for almost 2 years and have accomplished hundreds of these small works of art . It is amazing how working on smaller goals can take all the pressure off . Thanks for the video . It reaffirms what I had to figure out the hard way .
I've been doing these for over 3 years now and the results are priceless. I feel more calm and balanced, never been more healthy physically and mentally. At the meantime I also learned a language, play the piano again, can now do new amazing yoga poses, redecorated the apartment, ticked a lot items off my bucket list, and so on... whoever feels lost or overwhelmed, please remember: once you start something it will get better. You will get better. And you will enjoy it. 💞
I meditated for 30 seconds, did art for 30 seconds, read 30 words of a book, did 3 push-ups, 3 planks, 3 chin ups, cleaned for 3 seconds, helped an old lady across half a street 🤙🏻 I feel so successful and it’s still only 8am 😛👏🏻
Excellent video. That simple; that good! I’m 70 years old and wish I’d had this explanation earlier, but hey, it’s never too late to start anything. The feeling of accomplishment is actually quite satisfying.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, or in your case maybe 50. But the best second best time to plant one is now. Much respect to your effort. 👌🙏👍
This is biggest discovery in my life, after so many failures with seting GOALs that I was not able to achieve and get only frustration and anger out of it I use tiny goals and after just few days instead of fatigue and rising preasure that I won't be able to reach them I can feel that I'm having some fun and growing each single step that starts small but I almost always want to do more. Cool stuff, THANKS
Thanks. I needed this. I have been prodcastinating my studies for the past two months. Instead of 1 topic per day , I start with 1 page only. My interest on the subject grew everyday. Now I have completed my revision and totally prepared for my exams !
I am a music teacher and I talk to all of my students about this. I remember being a young musician and setting high expectations for myself.. then when I failed over and over again, it hurt my self confidence until I grew a guilty conscience and felt I was inadequate as a musician. On top of that, it became difficult to enjoy playing music in the first place. I think we need to be teaching more kids how to use tools like this to become more resilient and productive without increasing their anxiety; I know I could have used this advice so much back when I was in middle school and high school.
I agree. Once you get started the people around you will expect you to continue and will push you to do greater things, once you build repetition and a reputation you're on your way
I was racing, after I started I was easily doing it, but then I tripped, and I basically failed. So yeah, momentum is easy to sustain, but if you stop it can be hard to get back so yeah =)
Mini Habits by Stephen Guise is one of the life changing books I ever read. I learned an easy way to accomplish tasks and create habits from tasks i dreaded to start and procrastinated on for years such us filing, tidying & decluttering. Best part is that I started gardening using mini habits and now i not only get a good workout from it (i dig and plough myself), I am truly enjoying gardening and planning to start a side hustle with this new hobby. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone struggling to do something they know is important to them but keep procrastinating on.
This is such common sense stuff...but I’ve had to learn this the hard way. At least I can say I’m getting things done. The hardest part I think isn’t even doing something for 2min, it’s learning to ACCEPT that 2min activity as GOOD ENOUGH. Being a perfectionist and having an all-or-nothing attitude will honestly rot your soul and rob you of the joy of living.
Exactly the problem I've been trying to overcome. It helps SO much when you can stop expecting perfection of yourself for even a few minutes at a time. The floodgates of productivity start opening.
I’m paralyzed by perfection expectations. I’m trying the mini habits, but I also have to work on ‘believing and accepting” that the completion of said mini task is a success and not another lazy attempt at a goal.
I've also been struggling with perfectionism and all-or-nothing attitude. I guess If I manage to accept that 2min are a success by themselves, it would feel really great.
This philosophy is absolutely spot on!!! I have been doing it for years. If I plan a walk (for exercise) but then feel lazy, I just trick myself by saying "I'll just walk as far as Smith Cove". Invariably when I get to that spot (which is only half a mile away), I will in fact walk further. After my walk, I always feel good and tremendously pleased that I did more.
Is your Smith Cove on an island, by chance? Simply asking, since I have a special place in my heart for a place by the same name & I used to say the same thing to myself, walk or run, but I’d always end up going further then of course double back which meant stopping there for a good swim or taking a back road which made for smelling the best jerk & hard-dough bread, ever! (I’d often end up there for late late dinner but never felt bad about enjoying the authentic walk-up window food - wrapped in foil - served by Ms.Vigh(sp?) herself or one of her daughters with a smile - if I offered one first, plus a hearty thank you!) I hope your Smith Cove is just as special. Thanks for the memory & keep on, walking or running, whatever you have to do to keep moving - it helps move others - thanks again! It’s been a decade since I ran, but this memory can get me up & out the door in the morning, I know it! You’re an angel!
I think the mini version of a walk would be to reach the end of your block. Consistently doing at least half a mile requires a great deal more willpower, so congrats for that.
it is so true. Exactly 89 days ago, I decided to take Duolingo seriously and started learning Spanish. I decided I didn't have to study 1 hour every day, instead I decided I wanted to study every single day at least 1 minute. Of almost 100 days, I missed only 4. Now, it is part of my routine. I don't even think about it, I just study and it feels good. Maybe I'm not running fast, but I can assume I didn't stop my running. And I don't pretend to, not until I achieve my goal. I'm taking one step every day. There are days I study less than 5 minutes. But still, I didn't give up my goal. I've noticed the more I want to do, the less I actually do. Also, don't worry about your final goal, but about your daily mission. When I have to get done my Duolingo lessons, I think about it more like a daily mission than a lifetime quest.
For those of you that are unsure if this works, it does, I have had to learn this the hard way as I have had an illness for 15 years that has taken most of my energy so I have to do small amounts when I can and I achieve a lot by not setting any deadline as I have no energy to set a deadline, so I get it done when I get it done and I succeed. I have been thinking about starting a youtube channel to show people how I do what I do because if I can achieve tasks anybody can.
superfluityme I’m in a similar position and struggling to get things done. I’m so weak right now that just imagining the energy involved in doing some of the things I need to do is overwhelming. I would watch your channel if you made it!
Same here. I have a muscular disease (PLS) and have had a stroke in the past. I try not to make a long to-do list because I then set myself up for failure. I would definitely watch your videos.
@@booksinbed so you break those projects down into the absolute minimum tasks possible. Want to type something? Start by turning on the computer. Then open the program for the typing. Etc. Read the book this info was pilfered from... MINI HABITS by Stephen Guise.
I implemented this while learning coding, just one learning video a day.. sometimes more than one. Got a job in 5-6 months. Now I implement this technique whenever i want to start something new. Works like magic.
Manjesh Banawara i dont get that much sick. there comes the benefits of healthy living! but if i have a cold, for example, i workout 5 minutes only. it's so easy when you know everything will be done in 5 min, everyone has 5
I watched many videos like this on the internet and this one makes the most sense to me. It doesn't use some worn out arguments and methods that you can hear in every video and it tells you really simple what you need to do. Thanks dude
I find "mini-tasking" for cognitive tasks also gives your brain some time to "digest" information in the background and so when you come back to it, it seems easier and you feel more creative...especially after a mini-nap
This is exactly what I needed. Im in IT and have several certifications I want to achieve. But after working all day and dealing with family duties, I lose most of my motivation to study. I am going to try to start off with commiting to 20 minutes of study per day minimum. Thanks!
At 2:46 when you start listing off activities, I *DID* think, "wow, you aren't accomplishing anything." Then I thought, well, even a few push-ups is more exercise than I usually get in. And playing the piano for 3 minutes a day, is more time in a week or month than I play an instrument. Awesome video! Great content!👍
I have been doing this for reading, since february :) I need to read two pages a day, and sometimes I do more. I'm not a big fan of reading, but I am getting better at it every day. Yesterday I read 12 pages, and I finished my first book about a week ago. One might say that 2 months is way too long to finish one book. But if I had higher expectations I probably wouldn't have finished it.
Good video. As I often say: “The secret to happiness is low expectations.” I say that somewhat in jest, but I know, and this video confirms, that there’s an important kernel of truth in it.
I tried to be Ambitious and set very high goals and it's very stressful when I don't even take the first step, from now on I will use this method of Mini habits instead of seeking drastic changes.
This is so me! I usually set too long and too many goals and then fail almost immediately. At the start of January this year I set myself a very small goal - to have a cold shower every morning for 1 minute. Just 1 minute and it is now February 9th and I have not missed a day. Some days it is harder than others especially as I brush my teeth first so I then know how cold the incoming cold water is. But as it is only 1 minute, I know I can bear it. When I feel that I have embedded this as a habit (I am giving myself 90 days though it might take up to 120 days) then I hope to increase the time under the water but if I don’t it won’t matter as I know I will still do my 1 minute. By the way I feel amazing after each shower and it sets me up for the day - if I can do that i can do anything!
I’m on 260 straight days of doing push-ups thanks to mini habits, and I also got a long streak of sit-ups and stretching as well :) this stuff definitely works!
@ You can start really small, say do 5 if that is hard, say 2 or even 1. The goal is where your at not where someone els is at, and yeah say you do 2 everyday for 3 mnd and then everyday you go over that goal and you feel that that is "to easy" you can then start to say your goal is 4 every day insted or what ever fits you
@whatever04 I think 1 push up as a bare minimum per day is perfectly fine. It's so low, but that's the entire point. It should be so ridiculously easy that not doing the habit would be completely unreasonable, even when (slightly) sick i think even getting in the push up position once per day is good already to start
About a year ago I got really fed up with not exercising so I decided to start but never actually got much done in the long run. Around 5 months ago I found this video and I actually thought your idea was great so I applied it to myself and it really helped I now exercise everyday with a goal of 30 mins, but I actually end up exercising for around 1 and a half hours on a day where I have time, I want to really thank you for this video because it 100% works and has made my life so much better
This is a great method. I've used it with my novel-writing process. Some writers would aim for 1000 words a day. I tried before, and I just couldn't be consistent with it, so I dialed it down to 250 words which is much more manageable. With this mini habit, I was able to sustain a schedule of 1 chapter update each week.
My best shape ever came about because of this. I asked myself how many sit ups I could easily do every day, and then I did half. After a week I added a little more, and then some more. After a while I took two walks and did thre sets of situps and one pushup, every day... And then I got a cold and everything fell apart. I didnt allow myself to fall back on the small habbit.
The whole point is to not increase your expectations. So even when you aren't motivated, you can still do it because it's way too easy. Some days you'll want to do more, so you do more. But don't increase your expectations of yourself, because when your motivation gives out, you'll just fall off the path because you raised the barrier too high again
I suffer from depression and anxiety, I don't accomplish anything I start doing, so I'm going to start doing those mini habits, thank you so much. Edit: your voice is soothing kind of relaxing and the animation is quite nice (:
A statement might help when you say to yourself whenever you want to accomplish anything "I am just one step away" and humans actually are because our potential is far more than any obstacle or hurdles Hope this helps
My mini habits include- 5-10 minutes morning meditation. 10 min walk. 20 minutes studying (increased from 10 min), 1 minute morning stretch when I get out of bed. Walk 7,500 steps (increased from 5,000). Once I am able to do it consistently for a week or two, I slowly increase it. As you can imagine, I am exercising and walking more each day. My meditations have increased to 15 minutes. I find myself studying for 30 min or more. Keep at it!
Every time I don't feel like doing something, I just tell myself "I'll do it for 5 minutes, then do something else." A few hours later, job done! I think it's normal to get discouraged, because the conscious part of our brain can usually focus on one thing at a time. When we think about a project that takes hours, days, months, we take into account hundreds of things that need to be done to accomplish that goal. And that's just too much. Brain says "Naaah, that's too much work, too complicated, too hard! Let's do something easy." So, do the right thing: focus on the first step and only on the first step. Tell yourself you'll just do that. Need to write a book? Tell yourself you'll write a page. Still too hard? Tell yourself you'll write a sentence.
_5 minutes closer to your goal is better than 0 minuttes closer to your goal._ This message has been greeting me every time I log on to my computer for some time now. I came up with it myself for exactly the same reasons you describe in this video :)
The Japanese call this Kaizen - continuous small improvements. There is a book called One Small Step that discussed this. I think it’s a pretty powerful idea.
As someone who struggles with procrastination and being unmotivated I feel like this could really help me. I haven’t been to the gym in weeks because I set too high of an expectation. Thanks for the advice
Great video. Committing to just 10 minutes a day to important activities will change your life. How to you do this? 1. Time block a set time every day for this activity. 2. Use the Pomodoro technique to insure you spend the require time focused. 3. Pay a tutor, employee or some professional to engage in the activity with you. 4. Gamify your daily productivity on a point basis. This requires that your review/score each day with points. 5. Make a commitment to someone about getting the activity completed. 6. Give yourself a gift or reward if you complete the activity. 7. Give yourself a punishment if you don't compete the activity. 8. Eliminate activities to get this project done. Take a day off work, exercise at home, etc. Figure out ways to get time back. 9. Listen to UA-cam videos about your activity. 10. Complete the activity in the early morning to insure it gets done.
I'm a much older infirm lady but I still run my property on my own. I combine tasks or fit one task inside or beside another larger task. So that's a little bit like this mini habits. I've never had a problem being a self starter or having the enthusiasm to get on and get things done. But with age has come this infirmaty with pain. So enthusiasm had become an issue plus things now take four times as long to achieve. However, the list of to-do tasks and chores never gets any shorter! For example, at horse feeding time in the afternoon, there is a 5min period after the horses have first been given their feeds where I need to just oversee them and not but in. I sometimes sit and plan tomorrow or I can do a small task like weeding the area of the paddock where we are standing. There are lots more weeds than I can pull out in that 5mins but its a start. Doing this every day for a week or so, sees the area cleared of weeds. Then I can extend the area I clear which I did over this last month. Now it looks nice and tidy so I'm glad I put in that small effort. I can also clean the horse's water trough but sometimes thats a chore that takes more than 5 mins since the tap is 50m away uphill through the vegie garden. But what if I broke it down into two different tasks over two days? So I did the scrubbing one day, then pulled the plug to empty it while running to the tap the next day and the trough got done and refilled. There are a multitude of small tasks I can do on the way to, or while waiting for other things to happen. So by the end of the day I have crossed off most things on my extensive list. I actually don't like leaving a task half done by committing Xminutes to it then walking away to do something else. I often have to use tools which I need to carry to the site of the task then put away. So only doing half the task means double handling the tools which wastes time. Or walking some distance twice to a task location if it's not done in one go. But by the addition of one tool to my trolley, I can do an extra task on the way. So sometimes it pays and sometimes it doesn't. However, if you always have good intentions and are a genuine honest self starter, you WILL get everything done every day. If for some reason you gave it your genuine best effort but didn't achieve the goal, don't beat yourself up because there is always tomorrow. 👍
Thanks for your precious comment. It helped me a lot. I don't know how old are you. But one small suggestion to include stretching and breathing exercises in your daily routine and eat more local and healthy produce everyday. Thanks once again.
This is amazing..and so true..big things came from little thing we do everyday..disiplin and consistency is key to mastery in EVERYTHING. Persevere and you can achieve anything. The momentum will be yours to exploit..
This is the best life hack I've ever picked up! I started implementing it about 3-4 months ago and it really works! Amazing tool. I highly suggest reading Atomic Habits, it talks more in-depth about the logic behind mini habits.
This video came along at just the right time for me. I have 5 mini habits and have done them for 70 straight days now. I keep my house work up to date and have lost 30 lbs and I can manage my meals much better now. I read a least 2 pages a day and have read 3 books since September. I exercise (in my case dance) for 2 minutes a day. I enjoy it most days (especially listening to oldies) and have danced up to 25 minutes at a time. I wash my dishes every day and it takes no more than 5 minutes and the dishes never pile up like they used to do with used to depress me greatly. I do one household chore every day. This is the easiest because laundry and grocery shopping count. I file three bills per day as I was behind. I hadn't done this chore for years and am still catching up but the pile is getting smaller all the time and my files are at a state where I can see my position much better. Bottom line is that I feel good every day because I accomplished something. I highly recommend this method for New Year's Resolutions. Cheers all and good luck with your goals!!
I watched this video last year and it has changed my life. I have at least 15 mini habits now that seem very natural and require no effort - I've been doing them for months. This video is the answer to why anyone struggles with creating habits. 100% recommended.
I used to do this when I didn't feel like loading or unloading dishes, and it worked liked a charm. Have sort of applied it to other areas but you've convinced me to apply it to several. Love this. Very timely too. Just started classes which makes time mgmt even more important. Thanks.
Thanks bro I didn't find a better practical version for establishment of new habits. Thanks a lot. I struggled a lot in consistently pushing myself everyday as a young cricketer while I had to do cardio+workout+working on batting skills+even studying+not using much of mobile. I'll surely plan it in mini habit version and will definitely edit this comment after one month.
Small habits everyday..!! I started learning a new language on Duolingo. Did small lessons and never missed a day.. eventually im proud to say i completed 1 year practicr and can read and write fluently.. Small habits havr GREAT POWER..!
Besides the motion-analogy, I also like the analogy from chemistry: If you set up the activation energy, then the rest of the reaction takes place easily.
This is, in my opinion, your best advice. I’ve been using low expectations to help do things despite my depression for a while now. Getting dressed, doing laundry, even my usual hobbies. I try to do at least two minutes. Sometimes it’s even less. But even committing to the most minimal step helps. Even if it’s just pulling off my blanket when I don’t want to get out of bed. Anything is better than not moving at all. Thank you for your channel and all you do!
This is a form of baby steps, walking.... no... crawling before you walk, and then run, it makes so much sense in more ways than one. We often do in fact struggle to start, and sadly if I can't get in my 1 hour of studying/exercise or whatever else I am trying to do, I often wont even bother to start if I know I won't be able to reach that goal, and that disappoints me when I can't reach that goal, so setting smaller far more achievable goals, really is key, the more we accomplish the better we feel/the more productive that we feel. Thus I really should set much smaller goals, instead of lofty ones, and make sure I follow through with the small ones first on a regular to daily basis and work my way up. Yea, it may not sound glamorous if you tell someone oh yea! I practice/exercised for 2 minutes a day! Think of it as long term gain, not short term, sticking with something despite set backs shows volumes to the right person.
I stumbled ( I do believe everything happens for a reason) across this video and previous one on SMART goal plan after watching numerous videos on motivation and goal setting only to feel overwhelmed. I lost my first born 3 years ago and spiraled into depression as well becoming isolated and not accomplishing or following thru with anything. This series is so clear cut and simplistic! I believe for this 2020 year I will be able to start and accomplish my goals. Love your wisdom and simplistic yet attainable ways to set goals. Thank you!!
That’s how I started my exercise routine. In the beginning it was hard, now I feel most comfortable at my gym while exercising and feel sad if I have to miss a day.
Sometimes i even miss these little habits... BUT it's so much easier to get back on track and to start again. It hasn't this big 'oh no all of this was a loss and failure'-vibe and feeling. Because not a lot of stuff slipped through the fingers (not 20min of meditation, only 2min), so it's easier to get over the self built guilt and start again. I really love your vids and i try to get a little bit of it from time to time and not try to do perfect from the 'beginning'. That's so helpful
This is great advice! I've been reading one page for years now and completed several books as a result. I've just started exercising again after getting 4 colds this year. But I kept skipping days for whatever reason. Now I know how I can succeed and get started with the piano again!
Thanks. I sent this video 2 years ago to a friend, and yesterday he asked again for it. I had difficulty to find it again. Just watch it and so glad I did. It's a great lesson of life. 💖
Omg, you’ve improved my life that much!I’ve spend such a long time reading books and watching videos about Time management and procrastination, but it still did not worked out as I hoped it would. It got better, but time passed and I still got problems over and over again, so I got frustrated about myself😔 I‘ve never heard something simple and excellent like that. That’s a real value. Thank you a thousand times🙏 May you achieve all of your goals and live a long, happy life🙏❤️ God bless you.
This really works. The effect that the narrator doesn't mention is that once you have established the small goal and realized it a few times, you can't bring yourself to NOT keep it up. So you goad yourself to continue, then you achieve a threshold, a breakthrough into another level. It is a dynamic mostly opposite of 'big goal, easily broken/put off'.
But try and do it EVERY DAY for 3 months...that's how you develop the discipline. Once you master that, then do a bit more until you master that, and so on, but don't go backwards (maybe take a step back to ease up, then get back to it. Instead of burning out and giving up all together)
This is one of the best channels on UA-cam. Every video is just phenomenal. But people are just watching crap videos instead of this life changing information. I hope this channel reaches at least 10 million subscribers faster.
I finished reading the Bible cover to cover using this method, I only started with 1 chapter a day, then it snowballed into reading God's Word up to 5-7 times a day. It did take me 2 years, but hey, I still got to finish it! If I never implemented this, I still wouldn't have finished the Bible by now. Same with prayer, and exercise etc. This definitely works!
@lowly servant : Same here. The first time I managed to read the whole Bible was by imposing myself 1 chapter per day. Some days, I would only read 1 chapter, than another day I would read 19 chapters. I finished it in 1 years and 2 months which was a lot for someone who reads very slowly (my initial goal was to read it in one year so it wasn't that bad). Nowadays, I just listen to it in audio so I cover the Word much faster ^^ As you said @lowly servant, it also works with prayer. I knew the Lord was calling me to intercession but I had such a hard time to start because even a goal of 10 minutes a day was too high for me to achieve. So I begun with 1 minute a day after learning the "60 seconds rule" from an inspirational video like this one. The video I watched back then said it was something in Japanese culture to do things for 60 seconds to achieve a goal. I ended up being able to pray round the clock. Even when I was asleep, I would pray in the Spirit in my dreams ^^ I am not praying that much now, but it was a wonderful season to experience.
Wow I have been actually doing this even before watching this video. I am someone who tends to take on multiple hobbies at a time: reading, building model kits, video games, and going on daily walks/run. My main thought then was I just want to be able to do a lot of different things to avoid getting bored with one thing. And since I don't commit too much time to one thing, I am able to spread these mini habits across my day. Wake up early and read a book. In between breaks at work, I tinker on my model kits to get rid of boredom and recharge myself. After work, I take my kid and go on a walk. Then before going to sleep, play a quick 30-min game. What I noticed was when I did this, I often feel I have accomplished multiple things in a day. And since I only got to do a small portion of it the day before, I tend to start them more eagerly the next day. The cliffhanger on the last chapter of the book I was reading? Can't wait to read what happens next. I've already completed the hand on my model kit. Looking forward to finishing the rest of the body. And so on. I',m so glad I bumped into your channel. I also just watched the video on laziness yesterday and it got me interested on your other vids. I believe your videos will really help me on a daily basis. Thanks!
I really like this channel. I have ADHD and really struggle forming good habits, but this is a totally fail safe approach. It's so much better than advice that just offers an optimal time structure as if that is sustainable for everyone and if it does work it's a personal failing.
I think it was Terry Brooks (of those awesome Old Spice commercials & Brooklyn99) said that on days when a workout was just not happening, he would still pack his gum bag, get dressed, go to the gym, and if he still wasn’t feeling it he would just read a magazine in the locker room. He felt like even on days when he couldn’t bring himself to work out, he wanted to maintain his habit of going to the gym. I thought it was very interesting, and comforting knowing that even a well accomplished body builder has off days like this.
Brilliant! This makes me feel like I can actually do all of those things I’ve been wanting to do for awhile: read all the books on my nightstand, get my daily yoga habit back, lift weights again, etc.
Any spare minute you have during your day, such as while waiting for someone can be used to move closer to your goals. If not minutes, there are at least seconds. Life is too short to not use any spare window of time, and it builds momentum
I have read Guise's book, as well as B.J. Fogg's book and James Clear's. You have made this concept more clear and practical in 7 minutes, thank all of the above. Thank you!
That's a good mini-habit that you can use to give up on your bad habits. Every time you feel like eating junk food, wait for 2 minutes and reconsider it after 2 minutes.
My goal is to learn Italian for at least 10 minutes a day, and this is my 148th day so far. It works great, because I often learn much more a day and I never miss one. This is essentially what I did to learn English, and it totally worked!
This is a game changer! I always start habits but my expectations are high (exercise for 1 hr, meditate for 10 mins, read 2 chapter of book, etc) that I can't get any momentum to continue. Now I'll create mini habits, I hope I'll be more productive in the long run. Thank you for this!
This is a fantastic idea. I am going to implement this with mediation. I have a pretty consistent 20 minute meditation habit during the weekday mornings, but I would benefit from twice a day every day meditation. If I set a mini habit of 2 minutes for my second session and 2 minutes for my weekend morning session, I bet I can meditate twice a day 7 days a week. Thank you!
Oh! I do this. I tell people I actually do my new years resolutions because I have such low expectations that are still open to excelling beyond them. I got myself to exercise daily because I said "ok you literally just have to go downstairs and jog 1 mile then lift weights the rest of a half hour" when i had a sort of (very simple) gym in the basement of my apt building, then when I moved to the city and didn't have a way to run without stopping every block, I just changed it to sprinting uphill. I almost always would get at least 3 or 4 days a week with a decent workout and felt good enough to get out to hike on weekends from that. In a related approach for flossing daily I basically just had to tell myself daily ok "well you only have to brush but not floss" and then every day as I brushed I would think "flossing takes like 20 seconds, so much easier than brushing I might as well do that real quick after". At first if I still put up a fight because I had a couple teeth taken out I'd add "you don't even have as many teeth as most people you lazy ass."
I realized that I had been giving too many expectations on me. Your advices are working really well. I have been becoming increasingly relaxed and confident in daily life with my small and small habits. Thank you so much.
Want to learn more about this topic? Get the book "Mini Habits" by Stephen Guise.
US: amzn.to/2liXuJZ
EU: amzn.to/2mgqceL
Difference to atomic habits?
Better Than Yesterday wow the things you mentioned are the very things i want to accomplish (just replace meditation with writing). i expect less from everything except my piano practice (w/c i practice 1 hour or more daily)
Thank you for giving the originator of this idea credit and linking to his book (which truly changed my life).
6:10 reminds me of "supereasy barely an inconvinience" xD if you dont know this phrase you need some of this :) ua-cam.com/video/DTU4xoVKmPE/v-deo.html
just watch one episode (~6mins) then you will know
@@MasterTow1994 I've read both. Atomic habits I feel is 2.0 of mini habits. Both are worth reading or listening to. Just like two points of view on same subject is always a good idea.
"We tend to overestimate what we could do in a day, and underestimate what we could do in a lifetime."
Well said 👍
my thoughts
Atomic Habits
Amen.
суровая правда жизни💪😏😁
The Japanese has a saying: "Sooner than later, the discipline will beat the intelligence"
Rock Lee said that
@@JohnJohn-yr1kn Dayum! Really?
Yes that's why Japan has to go
Manas lol
Best comments I ever seen
Momentum is a serious and underrated weapon.
Ok
Momentum is amazing. If you can get the ball rolling, things just start to snowball. Next thing you know, you have an avalanche of momentum on your side, and you are accomplishing amazing things.👍
Inertia is the enemy!
And that comment, sir, is an underrated one
*or madame*
My grandmother used to say, “starting is half done." I think of this the same way. Thanks...
was her italian?
We have a very similar saying
@@Itnecap We have something like that in Chinese too, "开始是成功的一半", or "Getting started is half the success"
Over 500 days of programming daily minimum 10 minutes later and I'm a freelance AI programmer. I just made over $4k last month thanks to mini habits.
I want to frame this comment
what did u use to learn your stuff?
Wow, how !
THis really helped me as I'm learning JavaScript and had a goal of doing an hour a day - it never happened. So after watching this I'm going to do 10 minutes a day - then I saw your comment and it's really motivated me!!
Very cool , congratulations !
"Make the goals so small that you cannot fail"
Well said
"Set low goals and achieve them."
breath and sleep
@@Megaman-2407 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@Megaman-2407 this one finished me 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣ngl
The key comes in showing up, if you show up and just do a little, it's much more effective than doing nothing at all.
As jocko willink says....get some
As Woody Allen says, ‘Showing up is 80 percent of life.’
A famous bodybuilder once said. It's better to undertrain than to not train at all.
chief tp LOLLL What about employees OVER 30? 😂😂
Consistency beats intensity. I live by the phrase, "doing something is better than doing nothing." 10 mins of exercise is better than 0 mins, 10 mins of studying is better than 0 mins and the list goes on.
Look into taoism. It teaches the value of doing nothing.
@@chetsenior7253 even we do something we are not attached or affected by results doing or not doing is same is it correct
I was severely depressed (could barely get out of bed) and started doing this. 3 months later, I am now starting a new business, and my life is thriving in all areas.
I use an amazing app (Habits) to help me keep track of my habits; the widget is on my main page, so, it's the first thing I see when I unlock my phone.
I have 10 mini habits (5 mins of yoga, 5 mins of cleaning per room, gratitude journal, etc.) You can honestly even do 1 minute or less (think one push up). The point is to keep the habit alive. The trick is to commit to doing it, No. Matter. What.
L. Winter Well done. I did the same but exercise (just doing like 3-15 minutes a day over the summer holidays) and it made me feel so much better about myself. I stopped doing it for a while because I got a job and I felt pretty bad about that but now I’ve started again it’s come back.
I think doing little things successfully is a great way for people who aren’t in the best place to start getting some focus, which eventually develops and in a way makes them stronger than those who haven’t gone through stuff like that.
key words "The point is to keep the habit alive. The trick is to commit to doing it, No. Matter. What."
Even if it's one pushup a day, it's so much better than only doing 20 pushups once a month. Even if there won't be much of physical improvement, it is much better to train your brain to learn how to be consistent.
Yeah! I started meditating every day for 6 minutes in July and amazingly, I'm still doing it. At some point, I hope, it will be second nature.
... said no man ever
Fantastic , thank you for the encouragement ;D l. Winter
This feels like the third Law of Behavioral change:
#3. Make it easy
(#1. Make it obvious
#2. Make it attractive
#3. Make it easy
#4. Make it satisfying)
This is what was concluded from reading “Atomic Habits” of James Clear
I live by mini habits. Thank you for confirming that it's not being unproductive. I'm a writer and the hardest part is starting. That's why my daily goal is simple: just write one paragraph. Usually, more flows out, but all I need is one.
That's aboslutely right!
Hemingway said, "Write 1 sentence every day." I sure hope I got that quote right.
@@belssage Hahah I'm sure he said that at some point :D
Cheers my fellow author! Book out by new year.
Elliot Chan Hmm ! I will try this. I’ve been battling a lot of self doubt with songwriting and it keeps me from even starting. But I’ll take your advice ! Thanks 🙏🏾
I once read on a sign: „A positive anything is better a negative nothing.“
This fits. Thank you for explaining. Sounds like it will work.
I have used this method for studying, working out and meditating. It has been working greatly.
That's cool Barbosa but don't you feel like the production rate is too low this way ?
@@Adi-rr1rs , interesting question. For me it happened like he mentioned in the video. For example, I would put for myself the goal of studying for 15 minutes in the beginning. When I got the 15 minutes mark, I'd go on studying and ended up studying 2 hours or so. When the goal is easy, you procrastinate much less, and when you get the goal, the feeling of victory (dopamine) you get makes you keep on working. It's been 2 and half years since I decided using this method. Now, I study about 3 hours everyday (for self improvement, I am not a student anymore), meditate everyday and work out everyday.
So I ended up been more productive and disciplined than I have ever been in my life. And for a long period of time.
@R RQ So?
Meu problema é apenas com o pontapé inicial. Não faz sentido, mas a quantidade de tempo estudando não é o principal problema pra mim, e sim como iniciar tal ação.
@R RQ that's right. I am Brazilian.
A famous Arabic proverb: "If you can't have it all, don't leave it all."
ما لا يدرك كله، لا يترك كله
قاعدة " ما لا يدرك كله لا يترك جله "
رائع 😊
Wow! That is SO TRUE!
Ferengi rules of aquisition 299...
I was locked up in depression for weeks . I could find no way out . I,m a painter and clay artist . I didn't want to make a painting that wasn,t a great work of art . That kept me paralyzed and unable to start . Out of desperation I finally began by lowering my expectations and only allowing myself to paint for 5 mins. a day . It sounds ridiculous but working on such a small goal has really helped me . I,ve been going now for almost 2 years and have accomplished hundreds of these small works of art . It is amazing how working on smaller goals can take all the pressure off . Thanks for the video . It reaffirms what I had to figure out the hard way .
Ironically, I had this in my 'watch later' list for months
Should've just watched the first 30 seconds
Ah seems like a good video, might watch it later
*Click add to watch later
1 Year later
*Still unwatched in watch later
Fortunately I had it in my watch later for only a week. Really glad I watched ot
I feel you.
That hilarious ,until I checked my watch later and noticed the file was full
I've been doing these for over 3 years now and the results are priceless. I feel more calm and balanced, never been more healthy physically and mentally. At the meantime I also learned a language, play the piano again, can now do new amazing yoga poses, redecorated the apartment, ticked a lot items off my bucket list, and so on... whoever feels lost or overwhelmed, please remember: once you start something it will get better. You will get better. And you will enjoy it. 💞
thanks
I meditated for 30 seconds, did art for 30 seconds, read 30 words of a book, did 3 push-ups, 3 planks, 3 chin ups, cleaned for 3 seconds, helped an old lady across half a street 🤙🏻 I feel so successful and it’s still only 8am 😛👏🏻
Keep up the good work. Also report back in a week, if you want to.
thats a good start actually until it gets integrated as a habit/routine
@@annesharmaine0818 yeah, then you can move on to helping an old lady across 3/4 of a street and so on
@benhartart9487: "helped an old lady across half a street", things like this could not break out into small parts.
"kaizen" I understand is a Japanese word for small improvements on a regular basis
Excellent video. That simple; that good! I’m 70 years old and wish I’d had this explanation earlier, but hey, it’s never too late to start anything. The feeling of accomplishment is actually quite satisfying.
good luck :)
I’ll complete your wish:) i’m 16 and getting the explanation right now.
but ur not him
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream..."
-C.S. Lewis
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, or in your case maybe 50. But the best second best time to plant one is now. Much respect to your effort. 👌🙏👍
This is biggest discovery in my life, after so many failures with seting GOALs that I was not able to achieve and get only frustration and anger out of it I use tiny goals and after just few days instead of fatigue and rising preasure that I won't be able to reach them I can feel that I'm having some fun and growing each single step that starts small but I almost always want to do more. Cool stuff, THANKS
Thanks. I needed this. I have been prodcastinating my studies for the past two months.
Instead of 1 topic per day , I start with 1 page only. My interest on the subject grew everyday. Now I have completed my revision and totally prepared for my exams !
Yeah, I was forcing myself to study one topic per day and nothing has been done. Maybe 1 page can attract me to start studying at least
update : I failed HAHAHAH
@@sheikhheen9151 😂
"The man who removed the mountain was the same one who started to carry away small stones."
“Object in motion stays in motion” Thats why after an hour its easy to focus on studies... Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It was helpful. 👍🏼
hahahahaha
I am a music teacher and I talk to all of my students about this. I remember being a young musician and setting high expectations for myself.. then when I failed over and over again, it hurt my self confidence until I grew a guilty conscience and felt I was inadequate as a musician. On top of that, it became difficult to enjoy playing music in the first place. I think we need to be teaching more kids how to use tools like this to become more resilient and productive without increasing their anxiety; I know I could have used this advice so much back when I was in middle school and high school.
Momentum is always harder to create than to sustain
Hahaha, that's the idea behind momentum. Good one!
Use the force..
I agree. Once you get started the people around you will expect you to continue and will push you to do greater things, once you build repetition and a reputation you're on your way
Tell me about your channel
I was racing, after I started I was easily doing it, but then I tripped, and I basically failed. So yeah, momentum is easy to sustain, but if you stop it can be hard to get back so yeah =)
Mini Habits by Stephen Guise is one of the life changing books I ever read. I learned an easy way to accomplish tasks and create habits from tasks i dreaded to start and procrastinated on for years such us filing, tidying & decluttering. Best part is that I started gardening using mini habits and now i not only get a good workout from it (i dig and plough myself), I am truly enjoying gardening and planning to start a side hustle with this new hobby. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone struggling to do something they know is important to them but keep procrastinating on.
My Mini goal was to finish watching this video. I took me 5 weeks.
My min goal was to write a reply to..
Well done Brian! You're a champion video watcher.
Amazing. Couse this Video is a Week old.
@@soulcube8008 I was privy to it's pre-release 4 weeks earlier.
Cheers!! You finally achieved your goal!🚀
"Motivation to continue comes after starting"
This is such common sense stuff...but I’ve had to learn this the hard way. At least I can say I’m getting things done. The hardest part I think isn’t even doing something for 2min, it’s learning to ACCEPT that 2min activity as GOOD ENOUGH. Being a perfectionist and having an all-or-nothing attitude will honestly rot your soul and rob you of the joy of living.
Exactly the problem I've been trying to overcome. It helps SO much when you can stop expecting perfection of yourself for even a few minutes at a time. The floodgates of productivity start opening.
So true!
I’m paralyzed by perfection expectations. I’m trying the mini habits, but I also have to work on ‘believing and accepting” that the completion of said mini task is a success and not another lazy attempt at a goal.
That's my worst problem, all or nothing. I really want to beat this rut I am in.
I've also been struggling with perfectionism and all-or-nothing attitude. I guess If I manage to accept that 2min are a success by themselves, it would feel really great.
“Motivation will continue _after_ starting.” I am going to put that to the test this next week.
This philosophy is absolutely spot on!!! I have been doing it for years. If I plan a walk (for exercise) but then feel lazy, I just trick myself by saying "I'll just walk as far as Smith Cove". Invariably when I get to that spot (which is only half a mile away), I will in fact walk further. After my walk, I always feel good and tremendously pleased that I did more.
Is your Smith Cove on an island, by chance? Simply asking, since I have a special place in my heart for a place by the same name & I used to say the same thing to myself, walk or run, but I’d always end up going further then of course double back which meant stopping there for a good swim or taking a back road which made for smelling the best jerk & hard-dough bread, ever! (I’d often end up there for late late dinner but never felt bad about enjoying the authentic walk-up window food - wrapped in foil - served by Ms.Vigh(sp?) herself or one of her daughters with a smile - if I offered one first, plus a hearty thank you!) I hope your Smith Cove is just as special. Thanks for the memory & keep on, walking or running, whatever you have to do to keep moving - it helps move others - thanks again! It’s been a decade since I ran, but this memory can get me up & out the door in the morning, I know it! You’re an angel!
I think the mini version of a walk would be to reach the end of your block. Consistently doing at least half a mile requires a great deal more willpower, so congrats for that.
it is so true. Exactly 89 days ago, I decided to take Duolingo seriously and started learning Spanish. I decided I didn't have to study 1 hour every day, instead I decided I wanted to study every single day at least 1 minute. Of almost 100 days, I missed only 4. Now, it is part of my routine. I don't even think about it, I just study and it feels good. Maybe I'm not running fast, but I can assume I didn't stop my running. And I don't pretend to, not until I achieve my goal. I'm taking one step every day. There are days I study less than 5 minutes. But still, I didn't give up my goal. I've noticed the more I want to do, the less I actually do. Also, don't worry about your final goal, but about your daily mission. When I have to get done my Duolingo lessons, I think about it more like a daily mission than a lifetime quest.
For those of you that are unsure if this works, it does, I have had to learn this the hard way as I have had an illness for 15 years that has taken most of my energy so I have to do small amounts when I can and I achieve a lot by not setting any deadline as I have no energy to set a deadline, so I get it done when I get it done and I succeed. I have been thinking about starting a youtube channel to show people how I do what I do because if I can achieve tasks anybody can.
superfluityme I’m in a similar position and struggling to get things done. I’m so weak right now that just imagining the energy involved in doing some of the things I need to do is overwhelming. I would watch your channel if you made it!
Same here. I have a muscular disease (PLS) and have had a stroke in the past. I try not to make a long to-do list because I then set myself up for failure.
I would definitely watch your videos.
@@booksinbed so you break those projects down into the absolute minimum tasks possible. Want to type something? Start by turning on the computer. Then open the program for the typing. Etc. Read the book this info was pilfered from... MINI HABITS by Stephen Guise.
it does work TRY IT for 2 weeks
You're an inspiration to us all!
I implemented this while learning coding, just one learning video a day.. sometimes more than one. Got a job in 5-6 months. Now I implement this technique whenever i want to start something new. Works like magic.
i have been working out everyday for 10 months now. if i dont feel like it, i workout 5 minutes only. really works ❤️❤️❤️
What about days when you're sick?
Manjesh Banawara i dont get that much sick. there comes the benefits of healthy living! but if i have a cold, for example, i workout 5 minutes only. it's so easy when you know everything will be done in 5 min, everyone has 5
@@Rocio-ru1zg That is incredible if you workout even when sick. Keep it up!
Manjesh Banawara thanks! same to you!
Do you workout in the morning ? Evening ? What type do you do
I watched many videos like this on the internet and this one makes the most sense to me. It doesn't use some worn out arguments and methods that you can hear in every video and it tells you really simple what you need to do. Thanks dude
I find "mini-tasking" for cognitive tasks also gives your brain some time to "digest" information in the background and so when you come back to it, it seems easier and you feel more creative...especially after a mini-nap
This is exactly what I needed. Im in IT and have several certifications I want to achieve. But after working all day and dealing with family duties, I lose most of my motivation to study. I am going to try to start off with commiting to 20 minutes of study per day minimum. Thanks!
At 2:46 when you start listing off activities, I *DID* think, "wow, you aren't accomplishing anything." Then I thought, well, even a few push-ups is more exercise than I usually get in. And playing the piano for 3 minutes a day, is more time in a week or month than I play an instrument.
Awesome video! Great content!👍
I have been doing this for reading, since february :) I need to read two pages a day, and sometimes I do more. I'm not a big fan of reading, but I am getting better at it every day. Yesterday I read 12 pages, and I finished my first book about a week ago. One might say that 2 months is way too long to finish one book. But if I had higher expectations I probably wouldn't have finished it.
Good video. As I often say: “The secret to happiness is low expectations.” I say that somewhat in jest, but I know, and this video confirms, that there’s an important kernel of truth in it.
I tried to be Ambitious and set very high goals and it's very stressful when I don't even take the first step, from now on I will use this method of Mini habits instead of seeking drastic changes.
wise
This is so me! I usually set too long and too many goals and then fail almost immediately. At the start of January this year I set myself a very small goal - to have a cold shower every morning for 1 minute. Just 1 minute and it is now February 9th and I have not missed a day. Some days it is harder than others especially as I brush my teeth first so I then know how cold the incoming cold water is. But as it is only 1 minute, I know I can bear it. When I feel that I have embedded this as a habit (I am giving myself 90 days though it might take up to 120 days) then I hope to increase the time under the water but if I don’t it won’t matter as I know I will still do my 1 minute. By the way I feel amazing after each shower and it sets me up for the day - if I can do that i can do anything!
I’m on 260 straight days of doing push-ups thanks to mini habits, and I also got a long streak of sit-ups and stretching as well :) this stuff definitely works!
hmmmmmmm....
How far have you come on your workouts?
@ You can start really small, say do 5 if that is hard, say 2 or even 1. The goal is where your at not where someone els is at, and yeah say you do 2 everyday for 3 mnd and then everyday you go over that goal and you feel that that is "to easy" you can then start to say your goal is 4 every day insted or what ever fits you
@whatever04 I think 1 push up as a bare minimum per day is perfectly fine. It's so low, but that's the entire point. It should be so ridiculously easy that not doing the habit would be completely unreasonable, even when (slightly) sick
i think even getting in the push up position once per day is good already to start
@@dipsyteletubbie802 Jesus that's not even a mini habit, its a planck length habit
About a year ago I got really fed up with not exercising so I decided to start but never actually got much done in the long run. Around 5 months ago I found this video and I actually thought your idea was great so I applied it to myself and it really helped I now exercise everyday with a goal of 30 mins, but I actually end up exercising for around 1 and a half hours on a day where I have time, I want to really thank you for this video because it 100% works and has made my life so much better
This is a great method. I've used it with my novel-writing process. Some writers would aim for 1000 words a day. I tried before, and I just couldn't be consistent with it, so I dialed it down to 250 words which is much more manageable. With this mini habit, I was able to sustain a schedule of 1 chapter update each week.
My best shape ever came about because of this. I asked myself how many sit ups I could easily do every day, and then I did half. After a week I added a little more, and then some more. After a while I took two walks and did thre sets of situps and one pushup, every day... And then I got a cold and everything fell apart. I didnt allow myself to fall back on the small habbit.
So what you are telling me is:
"to fall back on the small habit?"
@@johnburns2940 Pretty much. Set the bar low. Raise it slowly. It feelt managable, and it still grew. Worked for me anyway.
The whole point is to not increase your expectations. So even when you aren't motivated, you can still do it because it's way too easy. Some days you'll want to do more, so you do more. But don't increase your expectations of yourself, because when your motivation gives out, you'll just fall off the path because you raised the barrier too high again
@@TNJVidz Currently doing slightly less then three minutes of stuff every day except hollidays. Seems to work neatly :).
I suffer from depression and anxiety, I don't accomplish anything I start doing, so I'm going to start doing those mini habits, thank you so much.
Edit: your voice is soothing kind of relaxing and the animation is quite nice (:
Have you join any quality life community? maybe that will help your..
@@farihmuhammad8838 I'm going to therapy but that also sounds pretty nice I'll give it a try, thank you so much!
What is a quality life community?
A statement might help when you say to yourself whenever you want to accomplish anything
"I am just one step away" and humans actually are because our potential is far more than any obstacle or hurdles
Hope this helps
Hey, how are you now? :)
My mini habits include- 5-10 minutes morning meditation. 10 min walk. 20 minutes studying (increased from 10 min), 1 minute morning stretch when I get out of bed. Walk 7,500 steps (increased from 5,000). Once I am able to do it consistently for a week or two, I slowly increase it. As you can imagine, I am exercising and walking more each day. My meditations have increased to 15 minutes. I find myself studying for 30 min or more. Keep at it!
Every time I don't feel like doing something, I just tell myself "I'll do it for 5 minutes, then do something else." A few hours later, job done! I think it's normal to get discouraged, because the conscious part of our brain can usually focus on one thing at a time. When we think about a project that takes hours, days, months, we take into account hundreds of things that need to be done to accomplish that goal. And that's just too much. Brain says "Naaah, that's too much work, too complicated, too hard! Let's do something easy." So, do the right thing: focus on the first step and only on the first step. Tell yourself you'll just do that. Need to write a book? Tell yourself you'll write a page. Still too hard? Tell yourself you'll write a sentence.
_5 minutes closer to your goal is better than 0 minuttes closer to your goal._ This message has been greeting me every time I log on to my computer for some time now. I came up with it myself for exactly the same reasons you describe in this video :)
OMG... this can work. After leaving this comment, I'm going to pick up my guitar and practice just four chords for 1 minute. Thank you 🎸🎼😄
How is it going?
So, how's it going?
Tell us, SEAN. HOW'S IT GOING
Sean won't update us! I think he picked up his guitar for one minute 2 years ago, but kept going and hasn't put it down yet. :D
The Japanese call this Kaizen - continuous small improvements. There is a book called One Small Step that discussed this. I think it’s a pretty powerful idea.
As someone who struggles with procrastination and being unmotivated I feel like this could really help me. I haven’t been to the gym in weeks because I set too high of an expectation. Thanks for the advice
Great video. Committing to just 10 minutes a day to important activities will change your life. How to you do this?
1. Time block a set time every day for this activity.
2. Use the Pomodoro technique to insure you spend the require time focused.
3. Pay a tutor, employee or some professional to engage in the activity with you.
4. Gamify your daily productivity on a point basis. This requires that your review/score each day with points.
5. Make a commitment to someone about getting the activity completed.
6. Give yourself a gift or reward if you complete the activity.
7. Give yourself a punishment if you don't compete the activity.
8. Eliminate activities to get this project done. Take a day off work, exercise at home, etc. Figure out ways to get time back.
9. Listen to UA-cam videos about your activity.
10. Complete the activity in the early morning to insure it gets done.
I'm a much older infirm lady but I still run my property on my own.
I combine tasks or fit one task inside or beside another larger task.
So that's a little bit like this mini habits.
I've never had a problem being a self starter or having the enthusiasm to get on and get things done.
But with age has come this infirmaty with pain. So enthusiasm had become an issue plus things now take four times as long to achieve.
However, the list of to-do tasks and chores never gets any shorter!
For example, at horse feeding time in the afternoon, there is a 5min period after the horses have first been given their feeds where I need to just oversee them and not but in.
I sometimes sit and plan tomorrow or I can do a small task like weeding the area of the paddock where we are standing.
There are lots more weeds than I can pull out in that 5mins but its a start.
Doing this every day for a week or so, sees the area cleared of weeds. Then I can extend the area I clear which I did over this last month.
Now it looks nice and tidy so I'm glad I put in that small effort.
I can also clean the horse's water trough but sometimes thats a chore that takes more than 5 mins since the tap is 50m away uphill through the vegie garden.
But what if I broke it down into two different tasks over two days? So I did the scrubbing one day, then pulled the plug to empty it while running to the tap the next day and the trough got done and refilled.
There are a multitude of small tasks I can do on the way to, or while waiting for other things to happen.
So by the end of the day I have crossed off most things on my extensive list.
I actually don't like leaving a task half done by committing Xminutes to it then walking away to do something else.
I often have to use tools which I need to carry to the site of the task then put away. So only doing half the task means double handling the tools which wastes time. Or walking some distance twice to a task location if it's not done in one go.
But by the addition of one tool to my trolley, I can do an extra task on the way.
So sometimes it pays and sometimes it doesn't.
However, if you always have good intentions and are a genuine honest self starter, you WILL get everything done every day.
If for some reason you gave it your genuine best effort but didn't achieve the goal, don't beat yourself up because there is always tomorrow. 👍
Cheers to you!
ClissaT You are an inspiration! Well done.
Great advice! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!👍
Thanks for your precious comment. It helped me a lot. I don't know how old are you. But one small suggestion to include stretching and breathing exercises in your daily routine and eat more local and healthy produce everyday. Thanks once again.
Wow. Impressive. You inspire me. You are a self starter. Feed horses, pull weeds and water 💦. Amazing dedicated work. Awesome.
There is no "Before" and "After"
There is just "Before" and "During"
This is amazing..and so true..big things came from little thing we do everyday..disiplin and consistency is key to mastery in EVERYTHING. Persevere and you can achieve anything. The momentum will be yours to exploit..
This is the best life hack I've ever picked up! I started implementing it about 3-4 months ago and it really works! Amazing tool. I highly suggest reading Atomic Habits, it talks more in-depth about the logic behind mini habits.
This is how I got out of my depression.
"Make the goal so small that you cannot fail" - What a concept.
This video came along at just the right time for me. I have 5 mini habits and have done them for 70 straight days now. I keep my house work up to date and have lost 30 lbs and I can manage my meals much better now.
I read a least 2 pages a day and have read 3 books since September.
I exercise (in my case dance) for 2 minutes a day. I enjoy it most days (especially listening to oldies) and have danced up to 25 minutes at a time.
I wash my dishes every day and it takes no more than 5 minutes and the dishes never pile up like they used to do with used to depress me greatly.
I do one household chore every day. This is the easiest because laundry and grocery shopping count.
I file three bills per day as I was behind. I hadn't done this chore for years and am still catching up but the pile is getting smaller all the time and my files are at a state where I can see my position much better.
Bottom line is that I feel good every day because I accomplished something. I highly recommend this method for New Year's Resolutions. Cheers all and good luck with your goals!!
I watched this video last year and it has changed my life. I have at least 15 mini habits now that seem very natural and require no effort - I've been doing them for months.
This video is the answer to why anyone struggles with creating habits. 100% recommended.
What are you mini habits
This might actually the best advice I have ever received.
I used to do this when I didn't feel like loading or unloading dishes, and it worked liked a charm. Have sort of applied it to other areas but you've convinced me to apply it to several. Love this. Very timely too. Just started classes which makes time mgmt even more important. Thanks.
Thanks bro I didn't find a better practical version for establishment of new habits. Thanks a lot. I struggled a lot in consistently pushing myself everyday as a young cricketer while I had to do cardio+workout+working on batting skills+even studying+not using much of mobile.
I'll surely plan it in mini habit version and will definitely edit this comment after one month.
Small habits everyday..!!
I started learning a new language on Duolingo. Did small lessons and never missed a day.. eventually im proud to say i completed 1 year practicr and can read and write fluently..
Small habits havr GREAT POWER..!
Besides the motion-analogy, I also like the analogy from chemistry: If you set up the activation energy, then the rest of the reaction takes place easily.
Reminds me of the saying, the most effort required to move a train is the first few seconds. After that it moves easily.
This is, in my opinion, your best advice. I’ve been using low expectations to help do things despite my depression for a while now. Getting dressed, doing laundry, even my usual hobbies. I try to do at least two minutes. Sometimes it’s even less. But even committing to the most minimal step helps. Even if it’s just pulling off my blanket when I don’t want to get out of bed. Anything is better than not moving at all.
Thank you for your channel and all you do!
This is a form of baby steps, walking.... no... crawling before you walk, and then run, it makes so much sense in more ways than one.
We often do in fact struggle to start, and sadly if I can't get in my 1 hour of studying/exercise or whatever else I am trying to do, I often wont even bother to start if I know I won't be able to reach that goal, and that disappoints me when I can't reach that goal, so setting smaller far more achievable goals, really is key, the more we accomplish the better we feel/the more productive that we feel. Thus I really should set much smaller goals, instead of lofty ones, and make sure I follow through with the small ones first on a regular to daily basis and work my way up.
Yea, it may not sound glamorous if you tell someone oh yea! I practice/exercised for 2 minutes a day! Think of it as long term gain, not short term, sticking with something despite set backs shows volumes to the right person.
I stumbled ( I do believe everything happens for a reason) across this video and previous one on SMART goal plan after watching numerous videos on motivation and goal setting only to feel overwhelmed. I lost my first born 3 years ago and spiraled into depression as well becoming isolated and not accomplishing or following thru with anything. This series is so clear cut and simplistic! I believe for this 2020 year I will be able to start and accomplish my goals. Love your wisdom and simplistic yet attainable ways to set goals. Thank you!!
That’s how I started my exercise routine. In the beginning it was hard, now I feel most comfortable at my gym while exercising and feel sad if I have to miss a day.
Sometimes i even miss these little habits... BUT it's so much easier to get back on track and to start again. It hasn't this big 'oh no all of this was a loss and failure'-vibe and feeling. Because not a lot of stuff slipped through the fingers (not 20min of meditation, only 2min), so it's easier to get over the self built guilt and start again.
I really love your vids and i try to get a little bit of it from time to time and not try to do perfect from the 'beginning'. That's so helpful
This is great advice! I've been reading one page for years now and completed several books as a result. I've just started exercising again after getting 4 colds this year. But I kept skipping days for whatever reason. Now I know how I can succeed and get started with the piano again!
Thanks. I sent this video 2 years ago to a friend, and yesterday he asked again for it. I had difficulty to find it again. Just watch it and so glad I did. It's a great lesson of life. 💖
This was by far the most helpful video on UA-cam I’ve seen in a LONG time!
Omg, you’ve improved my life that much!I’ve spend such a long time reading books and watching videos about Time management and procrastination, but it still did not worked out as I hoped it would.
It got better, but time passed and I still got problems over and over again, so I got frustrated about myself😔
I‘ve never heard something simple and excellent like that. That’s a real value.
Thank you a thousand times🙏
May you achieve all of your goals and live a long, happy life🙏❤️
God bless you.
This channel is underrated. Needs more subscribers and views. This is really effective like the opposite of addictions like foods etc.
This really works. The effect that the narrator doesn't mention is that once you have established the small goal and realized it a few times, you can't bring yourself to NOT keep it up. So you goad yourself to continue, then you achieve a threshold, a breakthrough into another level. It is a dynamic mostly opposite of 'big goal, easily broken/put off'.
"set the goal so low, you cant fail"
**proceedes to "clean my room"**
**touches my computer mice**
*DONE*
Nice!
Clean one corner of your room.
This is infinitesimally small....lmfao...😂😂😂😂
But try and do it EVERY DAY for 3 months...that's how you develop the discipline. Once you master that, then do a bit more until you master that, and so on, but don't go backwards (maybe take a step back to ease up, then get back to it. Instead of burning out and giving up all together)
@@thecurrentmoment bro ive been touching my computer mice every day for years
This is one of the best channels on UA-cam. Every video is just phenomenal. But people are just watching crap videos instead of this life changing information. I hope this channel reaches at least 10 million subscribers faster.
Producer: "Thanks for watching "
Me: THANKS FOR BLESSING ME WITH THIS CHANNEL. IT MOTIVATES ME MORE THAN THOSE "MOTIVATIONAL LECTURES"
I finished reading the Bible cover to cover using this method, I only started with 1 chapter a day, then it snowballed into reading God's Word up to 5-7 times a day. It did take me 2 years, but hey, I still got to finish it! If I never implemented this, I still wouldn't have finished the Bible by now. Same with prayer, and exercise etc. This definitely works!
@lowly servant : Same here. The first time I managed to read the whole Bible was by imposing myself 1 chapter per day. Some days, I would only read 1 chapter, than another day I would read 19 chapters. I finished it in 1 years and 2 months which was a lot for someone who reads very slowly (my initial goal was to read it in one year so it wasn't that bad). Nowadays, I just listen to it in audio so I cover the Word much faster ^^
As you said @lowly servant, it also works with prayer. I knew the Lord was calling me to intercession but I had such a hard time to start because even a goal of 10 minutes a day was too high for me to achieve. So I begun with 1 minute a day after learning the "60 seconds rule" from an inspirational video like this one. The video I watched back then said it was something in Japanese culture to do things for 60 seconds to achieve a goal. I ended up being able to pray round the clock. Even when I was asleep, I would pray in the Spirit in my dreams ^^ I am not praying that much now, but it was a wonderful season to experience.
Wow I have been actually doing this even before watching this video.
I am someone who tends to take on multiple hobbies at a time: reading, building model kits, video games, and going on daily walks/run. My main thought then was I just want to be able to do a lot of different things to avoid getting bored with one thing. And since I don't commit too much time to one thing, I am able to spread these mini habits across my day. Wake up early and read a book. In between breaks at work, I tinker on my model kits to get rid of boredom and recharge myself. After work, I take my kid and go on a walk. Then before going to sleep, play a quick 30-min game.
What I noticed was when I did this, I often feel I have accomplished multiple things in a day. And since I only got to do a small portion of it the day before, I tend to start them more eagerly the next day. The cliffhanger on the last chapter of the book I was reading? Can't wait to read what happens next. I've already completed the hand on my model kit. Looking forward to finishing the rest of the body. And so on.
I',m so glad I bumped into your channel. I also just watched the video on laziness yesterday and it got me interested on your other vids. I believe your videos will really help me on a daily basis. Thanks!
I really like this channel. I have ADHD and really struggle forming good habits, but this is a totally fail safe approach. It's so much better than advice that just offers an optimal time structure as if that is sustainable for everyone and if it does work it's a personal failing.
I think it was Terry Brooks (of those awesome Old Spice commercials & Brooklyn99) said that on days when a workout was just not happening, he would still pack his gum bag, get dressed, go to the gym, and if he still wasn’t feeling it he would just read a magazine in the locker room. He felt like even on days when he couldn’t bring himself to work out, he wanted to maintain his habit of going to the gym. I thought it was very interesting, and comforting knowing that even a well accomplished body builder has off days like this.
Brilliant! This makes me feel like I can actually do all of those things I’ve been wanting to do for awhile: read all the books on my nightstand, get my daily yoga habit back, lift weights again, etc.
Any spare minute you have during your day, such as while waiting for someone can be used to move closer to your goals. If not minutes, there are at least seconds. Life is too short to not use any spare window of time, and it builds momentum
I have read Guise's book, as well as B.J. Fogg's book and James Clear's. You have made this concept more clear and practical in 7 minutes, thank all of the above. Thank you!
My uncle often says: “When I feel like doing something, I sit down and wait for it to go away.” Now I can’t un-know it!
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yourtv 🤣🤣🤣
That’s how you stay stagnant. Lol don’t follow your uncle unless you're thinking of doing something negative 😅
Why! Why spread this 😁now I can't unlearn it!!!😂😁😁
That's a good mini-habit that you can use to give up on your bad habits. Every time you feel like eating junk food, wait for 2 minutes and reconsider it after 2 minutes.
My goal is to learn Italian for at least 10 minutes a day, and this is my 148th day so far. It works great, because I often learn much more a day and I never miss one. This is essentially what I did to learn English, and it totally worked!
Habit stacking + 2 minute rule = mini habits. Most excellent.
This is a game changer! I always start habits but my expectations are high (exercise for 1 hr, meditate for 10 mins, read 2 chapter of book, etc) that I can't get any momentum to continue. Now I'll create mini habits, I hope I'll be more productive in the long run. Thank you for this!
This is a fantastic idea. I am going to implement this with mediation. I have a pretty consistent 20 minute meditation habit during the weekday mornings, but I would benefit from twice a day every day meditation. If I set a mini habit of 2 minutes for my second session and 2 minutes for my weekend morning session, I bet I can meditate twice a day 7 days a week. Thank you!
Oh! I do this. I tell people I actually do my new years resolutions because I have such low expectations that are still open to excelling beyond them.
I got myself to exercise daily because I said "ok you literally just have to go downstairs and jog 1 mile then lift weights the rest of a half hour" when i had a sort of (very simple) gym in the basement of my apt building, then when I moved to the city and didn't have a way to run without stopping every block, I just changed it to sprinting uphill. I almost always would get at least 3 or 4 days a week with a decent workout and felt good enough to get out to hike on weekends from that.
In a related approach for flossing daily I basically just had to tell myself daily ok "well you only have to brush but not floss" and then every day as I brushed I would think "flossing takes like 20 seconds, so much easier than brushing I might as well do that real quick after". At first if I still put up a fight because I had a couple teeth taken out I'd add "you don't even have as many teeth as most people you lazy ass."
I have this on a playlist and when I need help/motivation/reminders I rewatch this video. Just wanted to say thank you for the great content.
I have done this by myself for years. It works!
The cleaning thing, I did that yesterday.
I just wanted to organize my desk and books and ended organizing & cleaning entire room. 👌 good video!
I realized that I had been giving too many expectations on me.
Your advices are working really well.
I have been becoming increasingly relaxed and confident in daily life with my small and small habits.
Thank you so much.
"Meditation to continue will come after starting." I like that.
Do you mean *motivation?