Form habits

Preparing and continuing these small tasks makes them into a habit that you can integrate into your life. In her habit formulation, McKenzie says the most straight-forward way to build a habit is to:

Decide on the goal – 10,000 steps a day
Choose an action you can do every day – walk for 30 minutes
Set a time and place you can do it – every morning on the way to work
Be consistent – do it every day, rather than just when it’s sunny or easy to get up
Note when it’s intuitive – McKenzie says that after 10 weeks, you probably won’t think about the fact that you’re doing it, you just will

When that habit is integrated, start again with a new habit. The idea is that, while it may take time to integrate something from every pillar, the habits will actually last if you take it slowly.

Celebrate the small wins

On that note, McKenzie says acknowledging and celebrating your integration is crucial. The small wins are just as important as the big ones, she says, noting the famous quote by Admiral William H McRaven: “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.”

“It is an accomplishment. It’s a small win that’s completed first thing in the morning, and if nothing else goes your way that day, you will come home to a freshly made bed,” McKenzie writes. Forget balance – a celebratory sleep in clean sheets is much more appealing.

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