Everyone is talking about the need to change something. But not everyone, unfortunately, is really starting to take at least small steps in this direction. This can be called the Monday syndrome, when we tell ourselves that everything starts on Monday: running, swimming, looking for a new job, painting, eating only the right food, going on a diet and generally starting to radically change our lives. Monday begins, but nothing happens in our lives. Why? Because Monday is a hard day and there are a million reasons why we are delaying the beginning of a new and bright life. It is especially convenient to blame others: the boss has filled up with work — I don't have time to do anything, a friend has encouraged me to go to a cafe for a cake and generally take time off from a new life for family reasons!
Often we really want to change our lives, but we just don't know how to do it right? I would compare it to when we start running completely unprepared — immediately set the bar too high, take a fast pace, work hard and put it off again until better times. Therefore, it is best to start your journey to change in your life by reading tips from those who really did it. Leo Babauta, as always in his manner, is short and clear about how he changed his life.
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How to achieve such a result? He started with 10 minutes of running every day. He tried to focus not on how hard it was, but on enjoying the movement and the surrounding space. Then the running time slowly increased to 15 minutes, then to 20, and so gradually reached the hour-long runs. Leo was grateful for every run he managed to make.
Result. He became healthier, sportier, slimmer and happier.
How could he change? Leo Babauta started small — more water, less fast food, more fruits and vegetables, home-cooked meals and cooking lunch with him to work. He gradually improved his diet and completely cleared his refrigerator and pantry of harmful stocks (chips, crackers, etc.), and also completely refused to visit establishments where they feed fast food. And I was also able to choose from healthy foods what I like most to taste.
Result. My health has improved and the excess weight has gone away.
In 2005 Leo was up to his ears in debt — creditors called him and he tried not to pick up the phone at all. He struggled to live from paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes had to borrow from friends or relatives. It was the most difficult period in my life. In 2007, Leo Babauta and his wife Eva celebrated paying off their last debt.
How did it happen? He started with small changes at a time: he began to cut costs a little, save a little, pay off small debts first, and then bigger debts. Then there was a little respite to catch my breath, and finally, at the end of the tunnel, light began to dawn. Gradually, financial habits were changed and debt problems no longer arose.
The author has no debts left and he is no longer going to return to loans. Freedom from debt is one of the highest freedoms.
After all the changes described above, Leo Babauta decided to start another experiment to improve life, which consisted in giving up Goals.
How did it happen? It turns out that you can do all the same things, but only without mandatory planning. Instead, you just need to follow certain principles that work the same way and without set goals.
People say that a person who has achieved a lot can well afford to give up goals. But in fact, you can give up goals because you know how it all works without them. And if you follow these tips, you will be able to change your life in any case, regardless of whether you have set goals or not.
1. Start small.
2. Make only one change at a time.
3. Fully get into and enjoy what you are doing (don't focus only on the results).
4. Be grateful for every step you have managed to take.
For me, this topic is very relevant at the moment. Since I also wanted to change my life before, I took on everything at once and, of course, quickly burned out. Just like running. And only now, having talked with different people, having read at least a few books about running, having moderated my ardor a little and muffled my ambitions (fast, far and all at once), I finally began to succeed ... so far only running. Apparently, I'm on the right track.
And you? What are you doing to change your life? What are the main principles for you?
