Life Hacks

Mini Habits: Small Habits, Big Results

Posted on 07.19.16 | dianahhale |

I bought this self-published book on Amazon last year, and it is one of the best purchases I have ever made!

If you have ever tried to make a big change in your life, you know how hard it is.

The reason why most people fail in their attempt to create a new habit is because they try to do too much at once. If your new habit requires more willpower than you can muster, you will fail. If your new habit requires less willpower than you can muster, you will succeed!

A mini habit is a very small positive behavior that you force yourself to do every day. It is a habit so small that it is practically impossible to fail. But that is what makes this strategy so powerful!

Here is how you do it: First choose a desired habit or change you would like to make. (For example, the author wanted to do 50 push-ups a day.) Then, shrink the habit down until it seems stupidly small. (In the author’s case, it was to do one push up a day.)

You can guess what happened. After the author did his one push-up for the day, he decided to do a few more since he was already in position. The next day he did a few more. Before he knew it, he had the new habit of doing 50 push-ups a day!

You can learn more about Mini Habits in this video.

Try it! You will love the results!

Throw Away Your “To Do” List

Posted on 07.12.16 | dianahhale |

I have to admit that I thought this was a crazy idea the first time I heard it. However, now that I have put it into practice I know that it works!

A “To do” list is like a nagging wish list. You have a list of things you want to accomplish, but no plan for getting them done.

If you are like me, you have probably had tasks on a “To Do” list for days, months, or even years.

“To do” lists have several problems:

They don’t distinguish between tasks that will take only a few minutes and those that will take much longer. When you look at your list, you are most likely to choose the easy items.
It seems logical to choose the “urgent” tasks, over the “important” ones. Important tasks are then put off indefinitely.
They cause unnecessary stress. “To Do” lists are a constant reminder that many tasks are still undone. They make us feel overwhelmed.

What to do instead: Live life from your calendar.

If you really want to get a task done, schedule time for it on your calendar. If you don’t want to put it on your calendar, it is probably not as important as you thought it was.

How well is your “To Do” list working for you?

Reference: Your To-Do List: Where Important Things Go To Die, by Kevin Kruse, Forbes Magazine, February 17, 2016.

My Last Tie

Posted on 07.11.16 | dianahhale |

I came across a post on Lifehacker.org that was written by a 24-year-old man with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

He had originally posted it over a year ago on Reddit, so I am not sure if he is still with us.

One thing is certain. He was wise beyond his years. I have included the text of his post verbatim:

I am only 24 years old, yet I have actually already chosen my last tie. It’s the one that I will wear on my funeral a few months from now. It may not match my suit, but I think it’s perfect for the occasion.

The cancer diagnosis came too late to give me at least a tenuous hope for a long life, but I realized that the most important thing about death is to ensure that you leave this world a little better than it was before you existed with your contributions . The way I’ve lived my life so far, my existence or more precisely the loss of it, will not matter because I have lived without doing anything impactful.

Before, there were so many things that occupied my mind. When I learned how much time I had left, however, it became clear which things are really important. So, I am writing to you for a selfish reason. I want to give meaning to my life by sharing with you what I have realized:

Don’t waste your time on work that you don’t enjoy. It is obvious that you cannot succeed in something that you don’t like. Patience, passion, and dedication come easily only when you love what you do.
It’s stupid to be afraid of others’ opinions. Fear weakens and paralyzes you. If you let it, it can grow worse and worse every day until there is nothing left of you, but a shell of yourself. Listen to your inner voice and go with it. Some people may call you crazy, but some may even think you‘re a legend.
Take control of your life Take full responsibility for the things that happen to you. Limit bad habits and try to lead a healthier life. Find a sport that makes you happy. Most of all, don’t procrastinate. Let your life be shaped by decisions you made, not by the ones you didn’t.
Appreciate the people around you Your friends and relatives will always be an infinite source of strength and love. That is why you shouldn’t take them for granted.

It is difficult for me to fully express my feelings about the importance of these simple realizations, but I hope that you will listen to someone who has experienced how valuable time is.

I’m not upset because I understand that the last days of my life have become meaningful. I only regret that I will not be able to see a lot of cool stuff that should happen soon like the creation of AI, or Elon Musk’s next awesome project. I also hope that the war in Syria and Ukraine will end soon.

We care so much about the health and integrity of our body that until death, we don’t notice that the body is nothing more than a box – a parcel for delivering our personality, thoughts, beliefs and intentions to this world. If there is nothing in this box that can change the world, then it doesn’t matter if it disappears. I believe that we all have potential, but it also takes a lot of courage to realize it.

You can float through a life created by circumstances, missing day after day, hour after hour. Or, you can fight for what you believe in and write the great story of your life. I hope you will make the right choice.

Leave a mark in this world. Have a meaningful life, whatever definition it has for you. Go towards it. The place we are leaving is a beautiful playground, where everything is possible. Yet, we are not here forever. Our life is a short spark in this beautiful little planet that flies with incredible speed to the endless darkness of the unknown universe. So, enjoy your time here with passion. Make it interesting. Make it count!

Thank you!