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The following post is an excerpt from The Art of Exceeding
The Paradox of Habits: Developing Productive Habits
“You become what you repeatedly do. Your habits will either make or break you.”
Frank Giampaolo
Now, we turn our attention to the art of cultivating habits that propel you toward your goals.
1. Defining Your Priorities
Before you build your productive habits, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your short- and long-term goals. Knowing your end game helps to customize your new developmental plan.
2. Setting SMART Goals
One effective way to define your goals is by using the SMART criteria:
- Specific (S): Clearly define your goal. What, precisely, do you want to achieve?
- Measurable(M): Establish concrete metrics to track your progress.
- Achievable(A): Given your current resources, ensure your goal is realistic and attainable.
- Relevant(R): Is the goal aligned with your long-term objectives?
- Time-Bound(T): Set a deadline for achieving your goals, creating a sense of urgency.
Once you have your goals in sight, you can begin to identify the productive habits that will help you reach them.
3. Prioritizing Change
Prioritizing change is helpful. Look into your athletic identity and prioritize what’s most important. Should you work on your mechanics or your mental game? What causes your results? The following outlines how to choose the right productive habits for you:
Self-Assessment
Conduct an assessment with a mental coach to determine your strengths and areas for improvement. If you struggle with time management, cultivating a habit of daily planning or time blocking may be beneficial.
Aligning Your Goals
Productive habits should align with your defined goals. If you want a reliable resetting routine, establish daily situations to improve that skill. If you aim to improve your physical fitness, a habit of regular exercise before school or work is a natural choice.
Gradual Implementation
Introduce new productive habits gradually. Adopting too many changes at once can be overwhelming and lead to frustration. Focus on one improvement in each of your four pillars of the game: Mechanics, athleticism, mental, and emotional. Once they become ingrained, add more as needed.
Decision Fatigue
The key to cultivating productive habits lies in establishing a consistent routine. Routines provide structure and reduce decision fatigue, making it easier to stick to your habits.
Time Blocking
Allocate specific time blocks for your productive habits. Whether it’s a morning workout routine, a mechanical development block, or dedicated time for dress rehearsal practice, time blocking ensures you prioritize what matters most.
Habit Stacking
Pair your new productive habits with existing ones. For instance, if you want to incorporate better mental rituals, do it in your practice sessions. Habit stacking leverages your current habits as cues for your new ones.
Accountability
Share your goals and habits with an accountable coach. Knowing they will track your progress can motivate you and help you stay on course.
Reflection and Adaptation
Regularly assess your routine and habits. Are they helping you make progress toward your goals? If not, be open to adjustments. Flexibility and adaptability are essential to long-term success.
Cultivating productive habits is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing, daily way of life. By aligning your new choices and habits with your athletic goals and maintaining a consistent routine, you are setting the stage for the results you’re capable of achieving.
YOUR TAKEAWAY CHALLENGE
To organize your SMART goals, hiring a mental coach is in your best interest. A mental coach will help you clearly define your goals, organize metrics to track progress, and set deadlines for achieving those goals.
