I have been working on some new habits recently.
Nothing crazy, but one of them is waking up 30 minutes earlier than usual.
Doing this helps me get a better jump on the day. Being up early provides some stillness to work on things before the day takes over and I am too tired in the evenings.
I can say confidently that I have been doing a pretty good job. About a month and a half into waking up early, I have done so almost every day, including weekends when I usually let myself slide a bit to recover from the week.
I printed out a little habits calendar and have been checking off days each time I get up at 6:15am. In just one month, it has gotten to a point where I wake up and think “don’t break the chain.”
Knowing my progress could be stopped by a simple 15 minute snooze under the blankets has propelled me out of bed to start my day.
This is why apps like Headspace, Duolingo and certain fitness apps are so effective. They track your progress and remind you not to break the streak. Who wants to break a good roll they are on?
This week has been a bit of a long week. Despite staying up a bit too late early in the week, I was still up at 6:15am. Yesterday, I went to the gym and worked out for an hour and a half after a long day of work. When I was getting ready for bed last night, I knew I was fried.
So, I did something I have been desperately avoiding for a month. I changed my alarm to 7:30am. I broke the chain before even going to sleep.
You might be thinking, so what? Big deal, Jeff.
But you know what? It is a big deal.
Ordinarily, when I break a streak like this it makes me feel poorly about myself, that I have let myself down. And my biggest fear is that missing one day will throw off all my progress.
However, after a full month of waking up early and enjoying the benefits of those extra 30-45 minutes in the morning. I am really not too worried about it.
Sometimes you need to recognize what the body and mind needs. Maybe it is an extra hour of sleep as it was in my case. Maybe it is skipping the gym to nurse a nagging injury. Maybe it is taking a night off of your passion project to let yourself recharge.
The point is, “don’t break the chain” is a great way to get you started. A great way to tap into your internal motivation to keep going. But it is equally important to know when it is okay to break the chain and have the confidence that you are going to start a new one the next day.
No self flagellation. No guilt. Instead, an opportunity to show yourself compassion and determination to get back at it after an off day.
Jeff Kruman 