What s difficult becomes easy


One final element of more with less that can make a big difference to our lives is the role that habit plays. Anything we do is much more difficult the first time, and gets progressively easier the more we do it, to the point where it becomes easier to do it than not to do it. A terrific example is exercise. Walking five miles is extremely tough the first time you do it, but if you do it every day, nothing could be easier. In fact, both body and mind get used to anything we do after about two weeks: it becomes second nature.

What s difficult becomes

easy

and what s easy

often creates difficulties .

Although we can change our habits at any time, it s easier to change earlier in life. If we always do what s easy ” such as overeating, driving everywhere rather than walking, or getting angry at the least provocation ” we ll find it difficult to reverse the habit a few years later. On the other hand, if we do a few hugely worthwhile things that are hard to start with, we ll find before long that they become easy.

A few great habits are vital because without continuous renewal we can lose things we ve worked very hard for. It doesn t matter, for example, how intense a fitness program is ” after a month of inactivity all the benefits will be gone. Why work hard for nothing, when a few habits that become second nature can give you a healthy rhythm every day?

We get more reward with less energy if we adopt rewarding habits earlier rather than later. But also, given human nature, we d better be selective about the good habits we re going to adopt. We get more happiness with less effort if we carefully select a few excellent habits we d like to have and master these, not bothering about all the other good habits we could in theory cultivate. There s a limit to the number of good habits most of us can practice. Yet a few habits can have a phenomenal effect on our happiness throughout life ” we get a massive bonanza from a little upfront effort.

It s for you, not me, to decide which high-payoff new habits to cultivate now (you ll lose out by leaving it till later). You shouldn t choose a habit because it s morally good, but because of the huge benefit to you. Just choose seven super-rewarding habits that will be your friends for life.

Overleaf are some examples of habits with huge benefits (if the benefits matter to you; only you can judge). Choose your seven high-payoff habits carefully! Get more happiness for less effort!

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Examples Of High Lifetime Payoff Habits [2]

Habit

Payoff

Daily exercise

Much better health, more attractive body, feeling great

Daily intellectual exercise

Keep alert, increase intelligence, enjoy thinking

Doing one altruistic act a day

Makes you happy

Meditating or quiet thinking each day

Clear mental clutter, make better decisions

Daily nurturing of your lover

Keep him or her; make them happy

Always give praise or thanks where possible

Makes other person and you feel good

Save and invest 10 percent of income

A future free of money worries

Being generous to friends

Deepen relationship, feel good

Always having 2-3 hours of pure relaxation every day [3]

Renew your energy, keep happy and healthy

Never lying

Evokes trust, enhances reputation

Keeping calm and relaxed always

Feel good, better health, longer life

Focusing on what matters to you

Making more out of less

Deciding never to worry: always to act and not worry or not act and not worry

Peace of mind, reduction of effort

Habitually asking yourself how to get more with less

Dramatic improvement to any situation

[3] This means no cell phone, pager, email, or other distractions, especially not work- related ones.

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Pick the few high-payoff habits that will make you happiest. The list is far from exhaustive, so add any habits that have the potential to make you very happy, then master your seven.

[2] If you value them.




Living the 80. 20 Way. Work Less, Worry Less, Succeed More, Enjoy More
Living The 80/20 Way: Work Less, Worry Less, Succeed More, Enjoy More
ISBN: 1857883314
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 86
Authors: Richard Koch

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