Over respond - it works!

Image via Wikipedia"Sometimes something worth doing is worth overdoing."
  - David Letterman

Are you like me on this second day of January trying to figure out how to keep those New Year’s resolutions?  Developing new habits is not an easy task to accomplish!

For me I am looking at the times I have been successful.  What did I do that helped?  Here are a few silly, but relevant examples:

1)       Take my vitamins daily

This is a very simple yet hard to develop habit.  At least for me!  When it was time to take my vitamins they were nowhere to be found.  Or the bottle was empty and I wasn’t headed to the store anytime soon. 

Solution:  1) My vitamins are automatically shipped to me each month in pre-packaged dosages.  2) I store them EVERYWHERE!  You can find these packets in my kitchen, my purse, my computer bag, my camera bag, my car …. anywhere that I can find them quickly.  No more excuses!

 

2)      Excuse not to go to the gym –“don’t have my gym clothes”

        Solution:  I have a spare set of gym clothes at the office, in my car and at the gym! Yes even duplicate pairs of shoes.  It’s worth the extra expense if it means I get to the gym more often.

3)      Drink more water

Solutions:  Water bottles everywhere!  Next to my bed, in my desk, in my car.

In Thomas Leonard’s “The 28 Laws of Attraction: Stop Chasing Success and Let It Chase You,” he referred to this practice as “over responding” to an event.  It was a lesson he taught me so many years ago and one that I have seen work over and over.  Especially when trying to establish a new habit!  By over responding, you free yourself from excuses or obstacles.   You also surround yourself with a built-in support network.  My vitamins are always within reach just “begging” to be taken!   

How can you “over respond” to your new habit to make it successful??

P.S.  I miss you Thomas, you were truly an Angel on earth.

Comments

[Susi Schuele]

There are so many ways to accomplish so many things. Delegate tasks to those can accomplish them faster and with more efficiency because that is their job and what they have been trained to do. Don't reinvent the wheel.

My tip - use the IBM philosophy. Touch it once. Don't take in the mail and say I'll get to that later. Use the RAFT system. Refer, Act, File, Toss.

Don't bring up the laundry and set the basket down - put it away immediately.

Spend time getting it right the first time.

Keep your inbox clear.

My personal Over Responder - keep lists everywhere.

Happy New Year!