The secret to consistency (without burning out)

After reading this post, we’ll see:

• What is the 2 - day rule.

• Why you should know about it.

• How you can use it to build consistency.

TL; DR;

Consistency builds habits. Pick one. Don’t miss more than 1 day. You’ll be set.

You want to

🙂 Build good habits

🙂 Work out regularly

🙂 Work on your side hustle

But the battle is with consistency. When you start, enthusiasm is at an all - time high. After this, you find yourself falling off track. After all, doing this daily is HARD! You need a break.

One missed day , and then another. Before you know it, weeks have passed.

Getting back on track seems like climbing a mountain now. You'd rather stay where you are - comfortable. This graph explains things well:

Fortunately, I came across a simple system for peak consistency. Enter the 2 - day rule. The mantra is simple - never miss 2 days in a row. Matt D'Avella popularized the idea.

It works because of it's simplicity. There's 0 guilt from missing 1 day. At the same time, there is accountability so you don't lose track,

But Chandan, I need a break.

So do I, we're all human. But hear me out. Taking a break is great. Sometimes life happens. We don't have time or didn't get enough sleep. On those days, go through the motions. Do a Minimum Viable Action.

Jocko explains it beautifully here.

Hmm, can I do anything more to make habits stick?

Yes! Use the "never break the chain" method. I've written more about it here.

How you can use this system to your advantage:

1. Start small.

   A new habit should’t be intimidating. Make it as easy as possible to add to your routine. If you feel the goal cannot be achieved, break it up into chunks. Here is a great tool to help.

2. Keep track.

   I’m a visual person (and old - fashioned). So I go with pen & paper. Preferably a printout of a calendar, somewhere I can see daily. I find it much better than an app on a phone.

   Digital options: Loop habit tracker (android) and productive (iphone).

That’s it!!

I hope this concept helps you become a pro at habit - building . If you found this helpful, share with someone who will benefit.

Further reading:

• The 2-Day Rule – Building Better Habits with Consistency.

P.S: Did you like this idea? Let me know. I personally respond to each mail.