The greater the demand that willpower makes on you, the more powerfully the chains of habit rattle.
They are really not exceptions; men and women who check their e-mail box 36 times an hour during their commercial time*. *Note, the hours with the greatest commercial opportunities.
Those who want to kick a habit usually do so by changing their ritual. Little effort, a good feeling and a big illusion. It's a scam, and you know it. Changing your habits reduces your productivity by a few to tens of percent, depending on the impact the activity already had. Brushing your teeth at the office instead of at home, for example, goes a lot slower. Going through reports on Monday morning before breakfast instead of the usual Sunday afternoon slows things down considerably. You don't even get halfway there. A sandwich from a lunchbox in the car makes you drive less smoothly.
Anyone who resolves to check their email less often starts by not doing so immediately after waking up.
- Willpower is your only tool.
- Stop checking and get to work.
- Leave your phone alone when you're standing by the sports field.
- Checking your email at the dinner table is just not okay.
- A true sweetheart deserves full birthday attention.
We are the first to admit that willpower has an enemy, called Habit. The more willpower is called upon, the more powerfully the chains of habit rattle. Willpower versus habit is a bloody battle. And willpower loses, because at the end of the day you still want to know whether that crazy Maurits has emailed as he promised.
- Learning to live with your inbox is a hell of a lot like dieting. Not eating is impossible.
- It's all about replacing old habits with new ones.
- Do yourself a favor and get into a healthier habit.
To be continued. So don't miss anything.