One microhabit for man, one giant habit for mankind
By Abhinaya Kasagani— akasagani@ucdavis.edu
The start of something new brings forth the promise of transformation — I am never as ambitious as I am in the first few weeks of January. However, filling the tank of reinvention too much, too fast, begets an overwhelming sputtering to the machines that are the body and mind. One steadfast rule to keep in mind this New Year is that “small is big,” because sometimes “big” can simply be too big.
When you get in the car, you fasten your seatbelt without having to be told — habits are formed through consistency. Contextual cues (getting in the car) are followed by corresponding actions (fastening your seatbelt). It might be tedious to navigate these habits with deliberation or care, but over time, the energy you would have previously required for this task is outsourced.
The possibility the New Year brings makes us impatient, and we grasp recklessly at the prospect of endless change. However, in times like these, it is extremely helpful when the advice you receive is instructive. So, I discussed this at length with everyone I have ever known and asked what, to them, is the new “one true habit.” Their answers were as follows:
- Don’t use your phone as an alarm. Wake up with the sun.
- If No. 1 seems impossible, try to at least avoid hitting the snooze button. Place your alarm in a far corner of your room or make the ringer sound extremely painful.
- No phones at the table. Challenge yourself to be bored.
- Print out required readings. There is so much lost when you use your screen, not to mention the extra eye strain.
- Try to drink less soda and more water. Resist the urge to pump yourself full of sugar.
- Try to put yourself out there more. Take more initiative and start a task right as you think of it.
- Make time for yourself. Go out alone. Go on dates. Make friends. Do not close yourself off to things. It is easy to birth and nurture stagnancy. Participate in more in-person conversations.
- Eat a banana when you are stressed.
- Take the stairs. Movement is crucial to your well-being. If you usually resort to taking the elevator — not because you’re inactive but because you’re late — work on doing something about that.
- Put your phone on grayscale to reduce your screen time.
- Investigate all of the ways you can remove capitalism from your life.
- Write down one thing you are grateful for at the beginning and end of each day. Note what has changed.
- Craft more — hands are meant to mold and produce. Nothing is bad if you make it wholeheartedly and with care.
- Focus less on things that come easily. Doing the work is admirable and nothing to be embarrassed about. Want things proudly and commit to working on them. It is perfectly fine to be bad at something you want to be good at. Good things take time.
- Learn, relearn and finesse. This is the age for trial and error (there is never truly an age, but you might get less inclined to try as you get older). Read more, learn more and apply yourself. Practice makes perfect, and there is nothing sweeter than the fruit of dedication.
- Listen and observe. Talking less about others, or even yourself, is a good goal to have. Watch more closely. Life can be lived slowly. Take everything (academics, career and any other long-term goals) less seriously. At the same time, take everything (health, friendship and self-care) more seriously.
- Catalog things.
- Be kind. What is the point of anything if you forget this?
Still, the question lingers on how one must make these microhabits stick. If you want these habits to be sustainable, anchor them to ones you already have. Your new microhabit needs to breathe, so let it. Set a designated space and time for these things. Set a reminder for the time at which they must be carried out.
The list has done half the work. It is easy to do the rest — start small, stay consistent, track progress and reward yourself. Establish a routine that works for you. Try to be patient and consistent even if it does not seem to pay off instantly. Instant gratification will not keep you warm at night.
Don’t think too long and hard about this: The ability to revise is a great skill to have. You can update these microhabits as you go — nothing is set in stone. Who you are is malleable. Isn’t that wonderful?
Written by: Abhinaya Kasagani— akasagani@ucdavis.edu
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