September 19, 2019
I argue that most of what we accomplish in life isn't actually things that we aim to do. You always hear phrases like "Try your best" or "Put your mind to it and you can accomplish anything." Sometimes I struggle with these ideas because I think our regular routines are greater indicator of our success than any type of conscious effort.
Many experts agree dieting doesn't lead to long term results for most people. It doesn't mean dieting can't work, but dieting requires a long-term commitment and sustained will.
Our weight is more complicated than just our diet, but weight is heavily influenced by what we eat. This is where your routines play a part.
If you want to make a positive impact, don't diet. Diets are temporary. Instead, build new meal-time routines that consist of healthier food choices. This is not a temporary solution, it is permanent. Don't diet. Change how you eat permanently.
To broaden this view a bit, ask yourself, "What do my daily routines look like?" What do you really spend your time doing? Does your daily routine include exercise, self-development, or making progress towards a long term goal or does your daily routine include a lot of activities that result in instantly gratifying; playing on your phone or playing video games, watching TV shows or scrolling endlessly through social media?
Don't misunderstand me; I don't think zoning out and leisure time are bad things, but I don't think they should be all you do. The people that end up reaching their goals in life spend portions of every day working towards those goals. It's like erosion. It is little actions over a long time will produce huge results in your life.
If you added up the value of your routines, what would it amount to?
Pay attention to the small routines in your life. If you build small routines that add value to your life, the goals that you seek to achieve in your life will move closer and closer to you. These big, audacious goals that seem so far away will become a foregone conclusion if you build routines that slowly move you in the direction you want to go.