The Power of a Daily Habit

When Everett Harper wrote his first nonfiction book, Move to the Edge, Declare It Center, he didn't have time.

Everett was the CEO of a mid-sized tech company, Truss. He was also the father of a teenager.

Yet somehow he managed.

How did he do it?

One chunk at a time.

If you dream of writing a book but find yourself saying, "I don't have time!", well...

I hear you.

I mean, who isn't busy these days – with a job, family commitments, exercise, hobbies and self-care to fit into your day? 

But that's not an excuse.

Because if you want to write a book, you can – and you will.

Even if you're super busy.

And the best way to get started is to simply decide that you're going to do it.

5 MINUTES A DAY

Scientific research proves that the most effective way to reach your big, hairy, audacious goals is to form a small but consistent daily habit.

It only takes five minutes a day – yes, five minutes a day! – to make your dreams come true. 

Surely you can find five minutes a day to write and stick to it.

• Five minutes when you first wake up
• Five minutes right before you go to bed
• Five minutes writing instead of doom scrolling
• Five minutes of writing instead of watching a show

Five minutes a day might not seem like much, but once you get going, you're likely to write for longer than five minutes many days – and soon you'll have pages and pages of a rough draft.

It really is that simple.

WRITING TIP OF THE WEEK: Form Your Daily Habit

Here's how to start writing your book by forming a 5-minute a day habit:

1. Decide which time of day you're most likely to be able to commit to given kids, work, travel, etc., then set a daily alarm to go off at this time.
2. Sit down at your computer, or pick up your pen and journal, or dictate into your phone for at least 5 minutes no matter what. If you want to write for longer, if you're in the flow, then go for it – keep writing. But don't let yourself off the hook.
3. Reward yourself every day as soon as you have completed your 5 minutes. Some ideas: Go for a walk, make yourself a cup of tea, allow yourself 5 minutes on social media, make a phone call to a friend – treat yourself!

Aloha, 

MeiMei

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"People get sick, take vacations and have emergencies. We're not aiming for perfection here, only consistency. Keeping the habit alive means keeping it rooted in your routine no matter how tiny it is."

– B.J. Fogg, Tiny Habits: The Small Habits That Change Everything