Just One Minute
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Just start something Jake. Write for one minute.
That’s what I told myself before I began writing this article.
I was scrolling through Instagram the other day and saw a quick video by an entrepreneur I follow named David Meltzer.
I usually have zero patience when scrolling through Instagram. There’s way too much content which makes it overwhelming for me, which is why I scroll super fast. But this video instantly grabbed my attention.
It’s so easy to apply to anything. Use it if you don’t feel like going to the gym, reading, writing, prospecting, etc. It’s a hell of a lot easier to tell yourself “I’m going to write for one minute” than “I’m going to write for 60 minutes.”
In all likelihood, after that one minute is up, you’re going to keep writing because you got into the flow of it.
I’m already seeing the benefits of this strategy. It’s a lot more doable telling yourself you’re going to do something for one minute. One minute seems easy enough. Saying you’re going to do 60 minutes of a task is overwhelming and lead you to not do that task.
I have a hard time staying focused. Everyday my brain tries to distract itself with something, anything to get my mind off whatever it is I’m doing (this is one of the reasons why I’m going to see a doctor that specializes in ADHD/ADD).
Everyday is a struggle to focus. But, when I tell myself I’m going to do something for one minute, I usually do it. I began telling myself “Ok, let’s put all of our focus on this task for one minute and do as much as we can.”
This is where habits are built. The book Atomic Habits, by James Clear, is one of the best books I have ever read. It’s so good that I’m re-reading it again right now 2 months after reading it the first time through.
In the book, he talks about one of the people he has coached. This person had a desire to lose weight, and James told him to begin driving to the gym and workout for 2 minutes just to get into the habit of going to the gym.
Before you know it, going to the gym became a habit for this person.
It’s the same concept for what I’m talking about right now. The things you do for one minute everyday will morph into a habit. Some habits take longer than others to stick.
Think about some things you want to improve in. Then put pen/pencil to paper and write these things down.
It all comes down to your mindset. Remain consistent and you’ll get there one day.
Always remember the most important thing you need to do: take action on what you say you’ll do.
Jake Boucher is a licensed Realtor in Massachusetts working at US Realty Consultants LLC.
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