Chapter 1: My Journey to Consistency

Throughout my life, I have explored numerous habit-tracking methods. In the days before smartphones, I crafted my own trackers, initially on flimsy papers taped to my mirror and later using Excel spreadsheets. I delved into countless books and articles in search of the elusive "solution" to building consistent habits.

My attempts would typically commence with a strong resolve, where I pledged to overhaul my lifestyle by committing to numerous daily routines—sometimes as many as 19. These included meditation, body brushing, daily yoga, journaling three pages, and identifying three things to be grateful for each day. While these practices are undeniably beneficial, they embody the principle of incremental improvements—the idea that small daily efforts can lead to significant change over time.

For the initial weeks, or even months, I successfully maintained this ambitious regimen. I pushed myself to fit in all these habits around my 9-to-5 job, social activities, meal prep, and other daily responsibilities. However, gradually, I began to feel the strain.

I found myself overwhelmed and resentful of my wellness checklist. Instead of feeling rejuvenated, completing the tasks felt akin to navigating an obstacle course—hurdling over each task without truly engaging with them. My focus was solely on what was next, leaving me unable to appreciate the present.

During my commutes, I would try to meditate, squeeze in a chapter of a book, listen to a podcast, and journal, all within 40 minutes, turning the commute into a frantic race. I couldn't recall key insights from what I was reading or listening to, and my journaling turned into a jumble of meaningless thoughts. I realized that just going through the motions didn't equate to genuine progress.

At that time, I was seeing a therapist, and I voiced my frustration about my inability to maintain habits. She prompted me to evaluate the list of habits I had created. Upon reflection, I realized that executing all of them daily consumed approximately three hours of my time.

I grew up with the mindset of "aim for the moon, and if you miss, you'll land among the stars." This mentality led me to set lofty expectations for myself, and when I inevitably fell short, I felt like I was failing. The reality was that my habit list was occupying nearly a third of my waking hours outside of work.

In my quest to establish these habits, I inadvertently stripped away the joy they once brought me. I genuinely enjoy yoga, journaling, and even gua sha—a facial massage technique. However, once I started treating them as mandatory tasks, they transformed into chores rather than enjoyable self-care activities.

This realization was pivotal in rediscovering the joy of these practices. I began by eliminating the habit tracker; I no longer needed metrics to gauge my success. Instead, I focused on how I felt to assess my progress.

I also simplified my daily goals, allowing myself to spread tasks over the week. Accomplishing all 19 habits two to three times weekly is far more fulfilling than checking off only four or five daily. Admittedly, this slowed my progress toward mastering handstands, but it also prevented frustration and injury from daily failure.

Embracing an "ish" mindset, rather than clinging to perfectionism, has allowed me to enjoy self-care without the pressure of rigid expectations. I can be more spontaneous—whether it's hanging out with friends after work instead of sticking to my writing schedule or opting for a run instead of yoga—because I know I can fit these activities into my week.

Having a strict routine often leads to resistance, much like enforcing a 9 PM curfew on a teenager. So, for now, I choose to embrace my "ish" approach. It may mean writing less, resulting in lower earnings, but I believe that the quality of my work has improved, as I no longer force myself to write when I'm uninspired.

"The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves." — Alan Watts.

Section 1.1: Embracing Change

Chapter 2: Strategies for Sustainable Habits

In this chapter, I share effective strategies that helped me maintain consistency in my daily habits without feeling overwhelmed.

This video offers more than 10 practical tips to help you stay consistent with your diet and exercise routine, emphasizing the importance of balance and enjoyment in your habits.

In this engaging Q&A session, learn how to overcome failure and discover my top three exercises for maintaining consistency in your fitness journey.