Small Steps to Big Change (Mini Habits)- Lay Aside Every Weight

How do we start mini habits, former procrastinators?  In Mini Habits Stephen Guise recommends these steps:

1. Choose your mini habits and plan.  – Write a list of full-size habits you’d like to have.  (50 pushups a day/ write 3000 words)  Start with one or two, no more than 4.
   
   “Minify “ the goals so they are what Guise calls “stupid small.”  Be specific. (One pushup/50 words)  Altogether, they should take you less than 10 minutes to complete.  Meeting the small requirement makes you successful that day.
   
   
2. Dig down for honest answers about why you want to develop each habit.  Find the source.  The best habit desires are based in your life values.
   
   
3. Determine your habit cues.  Time-based ones are by the clock.  Activity based cues tie in with another behavior.  General mini habits are done once per day (deadline bedtime).  Avoid skipping because that will start a negative habit.
   
   
4. Make a reward plan.  Rewards encourage repeat behavior and may also restore willpower.  Give your brain a reward initially so it’s willing to repeat the behavior. Eventually satisfaction in the job done is enough for your brain to keep going because it desires the habit.
   
   
5. Track your success.  Guise recommends a large calendar placed where you see it often.  I use my planner.  Cell phones have options, but remember hand written thoughts take more prominence in the brain than digital ones.  Keep the chain of success going.
   
   
6. See small steps as critical for success. In forming a habit we want to do three things.  Mini habits check them all.  *  Strengthen willpower (Low willpower tasks with high frequency builds willpower muscle.)  *  Make progress now  (Complete the mini habit and you have succeeded – but you’re free to continue.  Mini habits generate motivation to do more. But do not secretly require more.)  *  Avoid willpower depletion  (No excuse for failure or fear of failure, no guilt. Tiny requirements do not drain you.)
   
   
7. Maintain small goals.  As you succeed with mini habits and do extra reps because you choose to, a bigger goal will be tempting.  Resist.  Keep your requirement low.  Keep expectations and energy on consistency.
   
   
8. Notice signs of habit, but steady the course.  Some indications a habit is forming:  no inner resistance, identifying with the behavior (I’m a fit person/a writer), no worrying about it, it’s non-emotional, not exciting.  (But life is better!)  Some mini habit sparks take more time to ignite than others.

How will you minify your habit goals?