how to hack habits
In the Bible, 40 is a significant number. Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days, which is the maximum you can fast before dying. Jesus spent 40 days after his resurrection teaching his disciples. Moses spent 40 years in the desert and 40 days in Mount Sinai. The number 40 symbolizes trial and tribulation, endurance and perseverance, and completion and accomplishment.
Going off of that, I think it takes 40 days to cement a habit and make it part of your life. Daily habits that I’ve made a part of my life include Bible study, prayer, meditation, going to the gym, coding, journaling, and sleeping 8 hours. I’m still trying to make writing and art into a daily habit, and while struggling to continue with these practices, I’ve came across some realizations.
The right mindset matters. It’s similar to what James Clear says in Atomic Habits, that there needs to be a cue to start a habit. When I’m thinking about writing a chapter of World of Eden or another story, there’s this feeling of resistance that I need to surmount. Insecurities such as what if I write won’t be good enough, what if I don’t know what to write or get writer’s block, what if I hate myself after writing. And I notice that a trend in my thoughts is “what if.” These “what if” statements are holding me back from accomplishing what I want to do. The way you think about something affects your actions and behaviors. Thoughts, emotions, actions, they’re all connected. Having negative “what if” thoughts impact my mood and prevent me from achieving the desired action.
I was thinking about what other trending statements I can make in my thoughts. I went through various iterations — “maybe I’ll write a bit, maybe I’ll draw something.” That didn’t work. There was also, “I might as well write something, I have the time.” “I might as well draw something.” Might as well sounded too wishy-washy for me.
Then I went to, “I’ll just write for 5 minutes. I’ll just draw for 5 minutes. I’ll play piano for 5 minutes.” That worked better. I made the habit tiny, which according to BJ Fogg is the key to creating lasting habits. Doing one push up a day is better than not doing any push ups. Brushing one tooth a day is better than not brushing your teeth at all. And you build up from there, as long as you make the initial threshold small enough to surmount.
All right, so I got over the inertia. Thinking “just 5 minutes” is my cue to start. Now what? I’m writing for 5 minutes, it’s going well, I might extend it for another 5 minutes, or 10 minutes. 30 minutes passes by and great, I finished a chapter of the book I’m working on.
But next day comes along. And I’m feeling lazy, I’m feeling the same doubt and inertia that I felt the previous day. How do I surmount this? What can I do better to feel better about doing this habit?
I need to crave doing this. I need to crave writing, I need to crave drawing.
For me, having a website satisfies my cravings. Writing a blog post satisfies a craving, I get to showcase my writing on my site and I get the validation from viewers. Having my thoughts out there where someone can read them gives me satisfaction. Having a compendium of blog posts on a well organized and aesthetic site satisfies the organizer personality in me. Having this website where I can showcase my writing and art automatically motivates me to work on improving my writing and art. The response? I start writing more. I start drawing more.
I think it’s the same for many writers and artists. We like to showcase our work for people to read and view, that is why sites like Wattpad and Deviantart are popular. Getting validation for our work gives the reward that we need, to be recognized for our talents and skills and identities.
Cue, craving, response, reward. Those are the 4 keystone components of making a habit according to James Clear.
You can reduce any habit you want to start and keep to these four components. According to BJ Fogg, saying an affirmation in a positive tone, even smiling and triggering feelings of joy, can be your reward. It doesn’t have to be as big as creating your own site.
It’s never too late to start a new habit. Each day is a present given to you by God, and making the most out of it does justice to the life you have been given by the grace of God. And before you know it, the things you found hard to do in the beginning will be taken for granted in just about 40 days.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
