The inside of my brain.
We all have a system for doing things.
Some of us reject the the word system. That’s fine, but we all have a series of actions we take or don’t take with everything we do. Habits are just a form of systems.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” ― James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Our bank accounts are the sum total of our financial habits. The way we look and feel is the sum total of our diet and exercise habits. How messy or tidy our space is is the sum total of our cleanliness habits.
Last month, I got terrible sleep. Since my sleep quality is the sum total of my sleeping habits, I did some investigation.
I noticed I was:
• on my phone a lot right before bed • eating later in the day • drinking more alcohol than usual
So I improved the system. No phone after 10pm. Not eating past 8pm. No alcohol on weekdays.
After just one week, my sleep quality has improved drastically and I feel ten times more refreshed and energetic.
My sleep data from Sleep Cycle.
In a recent conversation with a coaching friend, she told me, “It’s impressive to me how you set a goal and just attack it.” I was truly touched by her compliment, but right away I explained that that’s not how I approach things.
In the self-help world, we’re told to set SMART goals. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely. e.g. “I’m going to lose 15 pounds by August 2nd.”
I understand the utility of setting such specific goals, but they don’t light me up at all. I usually change my mind halfway through working toward them or if I do accomplish them, I’m left with this empty feeling and simply ask, “Now what?”
I much prefer systems.
To be more clear: I prefer designing systems which allow me to consistently doing the things I enjoy and get better at them. Here are a few of them…
Coaching:
I reach out to a certain number of people each week and update my client notes every Monday. I’m not working toward a defined number of clients or a specific dollar amount. I just love coaching and growing my business, so I have a system in place which lets me do those things well every single week.
Exercise:
I’ve never set an exercise goal. I couldn’t care less about how much I can bench or squat. But I love exercise, so I make sure I go to the gym three to four times each week. The cycle: push muscles (chest and triceps), core, pull muscles (back and biceps), and legs.
This blog:
I look at the analytics of this blog about once a year. I’m eternally grateful for how the number of readers has increased, but I don’t do it to raise traffic. I write this blog each morning because it helps me shape and get clarity on my thoughts on things. I’ve become more articulate and I get to share stories and ideas with friends and people outside my circle. So I’ve made it part of my morning routine.
Conclusion
So I’ll ask you: How can you create a system for the things you enjoy so you can do them more and do them better?
Do you reject systems? If so, why? And does rejecting systems lead you to take more action or less?