When great sports teams achieve incredible winning streaks, no one really ever talks about the first victories. No announcer says, “Today, we saw the start of greatest winning streak in sports history.” Yet, those early wins matter the most. The team grows more confident in their abilities. They begin to see themselves as winners. They established a habit of winning. They get the job done and then they do it again. That’s a pretty powerful thing. Developing better habits can work like that too. You consistently get it done, day after day, until suddenly you’re doing it on auto-repeat. Talk about a winner! I promised I’d make chores more fun, and what’s more fun than winning?! Ready to get the party started and create a streak in your own life? How it works Think of a simple and specific habit change you would welcome in your life. Streaks works best for everyday actions. But hey, we’re making up the rules as we go here at Rock Your Chores. So maybe you have a habit in mind that would be great on a weekly basis, like trying a new recipe or going on a hike. It’s your streak, baby. You set your intention and define your streak. (Did that feel creepy? Me calling you, "baby." Little bit? For me too.) Here are a few ideas for everyday streaks—some I definitely need to work on myself. Side note: This streak technique is helping me rock one chore, but more about that in a later post.
1. Pick a habit and track your streak. I make simple hash marks with a dry erase pen on a menu board in my kitchen. I like the visual reminder of my winning record. But I discovered there’s also an app for that if that’s more your jam. 2. Celebrate each win, no matter how small. Run around the imaginary bases! Do a touchdown dance. Give your mama a shout out on TV. You’re on a streak! And your badass celebration is wiring your brain for future success. Remember Dr. Fogg’s advice. 3. Protect your streak like the fierce competitor you are, but don’t beat yourself up too badly if you do miss a day. That’s the thing about streaks … you can always start a new one, all bright-eyed and hopeful. What I like about this game:
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People have been asking me, “Why chores?” Honestly, I am not particularly passionate about chores of any kind. Surprise! What I am really a geek about is behavior change. What motivates us? What inspires us to act? What practical and proven steps can we use to hack our brains and improve our lives? Or to get way more personal and make it all about me … what can I do to quiet my annoying friend anxiety when I feel overwhelmed or out-of-control. That’s what I am crazy curious about. That's why I read self-help books and crush on brain and behavior scientists. Like BJ Fogg, PhD from Stanford University. He’s the guru of tiny habits. Maybe you’ve seen his Tedx Talk. I have. Multiple times. I am not responsible for his 1+ million views but I definitely did my part. Dr. Fogg’s research shows that small changes, or tiny habits, done consistently—and celebrated (that's my favorite part)—can lead to lasting positive change. I tend to have big ideas. Grand schemes. But where to even begin?!? So if there’s any advice I can get behind it’s to start small. Let’s hear a “Hooyah!” for low expectations. They’re the best. Sure, life sometimes calls for big, bold moves. But often the most successful leaps are fueled by much smaller moves done over time. Just doing the next right thing and then, one more thing. Moving one small rock at a time. My own wacky science project Dr. Fogg is just one of my academic heroes on behavior change. I think he’d approve of “The 10-Pick-Up Game Morning Edition.” It helped me create a new habit by establishing a trigger, starting small, being systematic and celebrating the small wins. On the RYC blog, I’ll be sharing the work of other thought leaders on hacking our own brains to make things happen. My tiny mission: Translate the science into games and tricks we can use to make chores more fun and to get stuff done (and if you're me: to feel less freaked out). Basically, I am my own science project, and I really appreciate you coming along for the ride. I’ll try not to make it a chore. Vector art: Vecteezy.com “Little things make big things happen.” —John Wooden For years, OK, make that decades, I let my clothes fall where they may in the bedroom. If you thought that sounded sexy, you’d be terribly wrong. So not sexy. More like the dressing rooms at Old Navy on the Saturday before school starts … lots of poor choices, empty hangers and inside-out jeans. We’re talking clothes clutter. When I’d finally get around to tackling this fabric of my life, it was a serious time suck. That changed when I started playing a morning edition of “The 10-Pick-Up Game.” How it works Each morning before I leave the house, I pick up 10 items in the bedroom—clothes or otherwise—and put them where they should be. I don’t overthink it. Every flip-flop, dirty sock and coffee cup counts. It takes just a minute or two, and then I get on with my day. I am also not a morning person, so believe me, I am not always chipper about it. I just do it. I’ve been playing this a.m. game for a few months, and it’s like I am a real grown-up. I don’t have to ground myself every weekend until I clean my room. Not to be overly dramatic, but how does life-changing sound?!? And a funny thing has happened. Now that the room tends to stay clean, I am more likely to hang my clothes up at the end of the day. Who is this person? She’s someone who’s happier. Sometimes it truly is the little things. Finding little ways to make chores more fun. This post is the first in the RYC’s Pebbles category—small steps that can pave the way to success. |
Hello!I am Margie Reece. I am here to help you rock your chores and have some fun doing it. Categories
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