Random Book Of Randomness

STOP MAKING NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Clickbait title. 

WAIT DON'T LEAVE.

Let me rephrase that: stop waiting for the new year to make a resolution.

I know some people are really good at meeting their New Year's resolutions, but I'm not. So if you're like me, read on. If you're not... uh...

Here's why New Year's Resolutions don't work (for me)

I have a FULL year to meet that resolution. Which makes me put off doing the damn thing until it's december. Then I realize it's too late.

Instead, I set monthly goals.

TL:DR Start working on your goals NOW. Don't wait until January 1.

Anyways, here's some tips to get you started.

1. Make it a habit.

Don't rely on motivation, if you're serious about what you wanna do. This is something I struggled with for a long time- writing only when I felt motivated. 

Instead, write everyday. Or at least every week. SHOW up to writing regularly. Don't be afraid to write complete trash that will never end up in the book.

2. Compress your goal to a 2 minute task.

Let's say you wanna go cycling everyday.

But you wake up in the morning, think you'll go later, and end up wasting the whole day. Before you go to bed you feel guilty.

To fix this, compress the task into a two minute one.

Everyday, put on your cycling outfit (if you have a specific outfit), and just go downstairs to touch your cycle. And then, if you don't feel like cycling after that, you can go back to bed.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS REALLY DUMB and it feels like I'm telling you to just touch some grass but GUYS I have used this and it works SO well.

So next time you feel unmotivated to write, just turn on your PC.

3. Be Specific

It's not enough to say, 'I will cycle tomorrow.' Write down the time and the place somewhere.

eg, 'Tomorrow, as soon as I wake up, I will go to my living room and write for 30 minutes'.

I don't know why the heck this works but it DOES.

(BTW, in case you haven't guessed it, the stuff I put here are from 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear. The BEST self-help book I've ever read with no fluff and ACTIONABLE advice. It helped me out with my life. I used to study barely 30 minutes a day but now I study at least 3 hours a day, almost every day, and hopefully will continue to do so.)

4. Work in Chunks

This is more of a study tip.

Don't work at a stretch. Split your study time into 25 minute or 45 minute chunks, whichever works better for you. Listen to music at that time, do some dancing, exercise, BUT DO NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA you will be sucked into a void of cat videos. 

5. Wake up earlier

Some people boutta be real mad at me, but Imma give you some #toughlove.