When we aren’t Covid virtual, or dealing with an unexpected January snowstorm, we drive our kids to school in the mornings. It’s the same 15-minute route each day, and we generally arrive at school around 8am. Every day on this commute, I see the same woman out for her morning run. I always spot her because of the signature blonde ponytail so long that it touches her booty and swings left to right as she goes. She is fit. She runs fast. She is almost always in the same place when I see her… on the corner just before we turn into school. If I see her elsewhere, it’s because we are late or early.

This woman amazes me. She has clearly mastered the power of habit – at least where her work out is concerned. 

Now I don’t know her. Maybe she’s a marathoner, and has run all her life. Maybe she used to weigh 300 pounds, or is a cancer survivor. Maybe she can’t calm down or have a proper bowel movement without her run. Perhaps she has 3-year old triplets at home and this is her only alone time. Who knows? But I do know something about her.  I know she leaves the house at exactly the same time each day. I know she has a set route she follows and she likely gets home at the same time each morning. She does not schedule anything else at this time of day. Her friends, family, boss, co-workers know that at 8am, she is not reachable. She has taken all the decision-making out of her workout so all she has to do is go. She has ritualized her morning run and it works. And likely because she has mastered this ritual,  she has learned its value and protects it. 

Whatever you might be trying to do this year - Write a book? Read a book (or two or ten?)  Master the lotus pose? Finally start that business?

It can start with creating a simple habit or ritual around it. 

I could go on now and write about how to build habits, but many have done so and better than I could here. I encourage you to check out content by James Clear, specifically his book Atomic Habits.  He shows you how to do it with his four laws of habit building that really help you see how easily you can make small incremental change.

My runner friend probably has low cholesterol and a strong heart. She probably starts her day with a clear head and lots of energy. She has all this because she puts on her shoes at the same time each morning and walks out the door.  What do you want? What small habit or ritual can you create that will give you that? Go put your shoes on. 

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