Monday is a routine. That’s why we hate the first day of the week.
It suggests the mundane. You have to wake up early and get to your job on time. If you don’t, you can’t pay your bills. It’s a vicious cycle that isn’t conducive to growth.
There’s a simple solution, though. When you convert your routines to processes, every day feels like a step forward. A process is a strategy that helps you focus your energy on events that bring you closer to your goals.
You with me so far? Good.
Here’s how the conversion process works
Step one: Stop calling your daily tasks routines. Sometimes making a significant change starts with the way you perceive something. It’s just like coming to terms with calling the people who pay you, clients, if you’re a newbie freelancer.
Act the part, and everything else will fall into place.
Step two: Forget the “step-by-step” mindset. Adopt continuity. That means making daily progress and not concerning yourself with the stats. Naturally, we want instant satisfaction. We want tangible results. But, life doesn't operate that way.
I know because it took me 16 months to see any traction as a writer. That’s a long time to write free content on the internet. No one said I had to keep going; I just did. I was able to get through the invisible barrier because I believed in my writing process. If I had relied on my life to change instantly, I would’ve quit within the first couple of months.
Step 3: Outgrow yourself like a crab too giant for its shell. Routines lock you in place. If you run a mile every single morning, eventually, your body will adapt to the stress. What once burned 150 calories only burns 100 calories.
If you kept running that same mile, you’d never know if you could run two miles. We treat our lives like this when we follow a routine. We stunt our growth without realizing it.
When you believe in a process, you evolve. Your shell grows with you. Instead of looking for a new shelter once a year, you save time by putting in the work every day and working harder than last time.
Take this with you
We now have what we once wanted. This week, think about one routine you want to improve on. Convert it to an unbreakable process. If you drop it on the floor, who cares. You can pick it right back up.
A routine is glass. Read that again.
Alright, guys, the day is almost here! I’m moving on Thursday, so expect a short post from me next Monday. It’s going to be a long weekend of picking up furniture and shopping for little things you’d forget were important.
Wish me luck, and I’ll talk to you soon!
-Ryan