Commit to 1%
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Most of the time we feel like no progress is better than a little progress.
We feel like whats the point of going running for just 1 day a week, or writing a blog a week, or working out 2 times a week. We feel like we either have to go 100% or not go at all. Now this applies to some things, however in general with anything that we want to do, starting small is always the best way to go.
Let me ask you a question, when a mountain climber wants to climb the Everest, he has a target for the peak however he breaks it down to small biteable sections for him to reach so he can get to the top. He doesn't get half way up the mountain and say ‘forget this, I didn't climb the whole thing in 1 day so there’s no point’ He knows for every point he reaches, he’ll take a rest and hit the next target the next day. This would eventually get him to his goal.
So why do we not do this for ourselves? We feel like if we don’t hit out target of going to the gym 5 days a week, theres no point. going 2 times a week is much better than 0 times a week, give yourself a pat on the back. We always feel bad for not going the full 5 times and feel like 2 times is an under achievement, but as everyone knows life throws things at you that you cant control. The whether, your health, work, family and many more can get in the way daily. We can’t be perfect 100% of the time, so why hold yourself to that standard?
Something I read and learnt this year completely changed the way I approach anything in life. It made me adopt the long term mentality rather than being focused on the short term, quick achievements and satisfaction.
If you improve at something 1% everyday, by the end of the year you are going to be 365% better than you did at day 1.
Small steps lead to huge leaps, and the best thing about it is that it’s all happening without notice. It’s like a compound effect, your efforts from yesterday, and today and tomorrow will all add up in the long term and the next thing you know you’re a pro!
So the next time you want to put yourself off going on that Jog, because you didn’t go yesterday, or the day before, or last week — Just go! that 1% will add up in the long run.
The one thing you don’t want to do, is to stay idle — because you’re not moving forward or falling back so you can learn from it, your just on standby for nothing!
Take small steps when you can, but make sure you commit for the long run and I guarantee you in 365 days you’ll thank yourself!
