Readily expected actions

It occurred to me today that habits are actions we readily expect to do throughout the day.

For example, I know I’m going to make coffee everyday when I wake up. I also know I’m going to write and publish (or schedule) a blog post (that’s how I’ve been able to do it everyday).

I also know I’m going to leave for work at a certain time, and pack a lunch. These are things I expect to do, which is why they are so easy to follow through on.

Working out consistently. Meditating regularly. Going to bed at a prescribed time. These are actions that I’m still working on. I don’t say to myself, ‘tomorrow, I see myself doing these things at these times.’ It’s more of an unknown.

Getting an action from an ambiguous ‘I’ll get to it if I get to it’ to ‘this is something I’m going to at this time of day,’ is what makes a random action a habit you can stick to.

The trick to inculcate those suspicions is to adjust the action’s duration and consistency. It helps to start small and work your way up. Moreover, the only way you’re going to readily anticipate it is to do it every day.

Habits work. But they start with resetting your expectations.