THE DESIRE FOR CHANGE

In order to change long-established habits, you must want to change. Note that desire was the first step in our change model. It was discussed from the previous post. What we suggest is not simple, and change is not for everyone. All the suggestions in the world are worthless if you don not want to change. And changing the way you use your time is largely a voluntary effort. You cannot force others to use their time well and they cannot force you to use your time well. The "want to" must come from within.

Habit change is extremely difficult, but it is crucial for all serious-minded people who wish to use time well. To improve your efforts to eliminate self defeating habits and replace them with self reinforcing habits, try following these approaches:

LAUNCHING NEW BEHAVIORS

Years ago, the famous psychologist William James suggested an approach to changing habits which remains valid today. He recommended that you:

1. Launch the new behavior as strongly as possible.
2. Seize the first opportunity to act on the new behavior.
3. Never let an exception occur until the new behavior is firmly rooted.

Before you can launch a new behavior strongly, you must define what the new behavior is to be. How would your proposed behavior improve upon your present habits? What would you do and how would you do it?

HOW CAN YOU BUILD BETTER HABITS ON THE JOB?

One good approach is work segmentation. Examine the different kinds of work you do in the office. If you arrange to do particular jobs in specific spots, you will concentrate better and avoid distractions. Segment your job as many ways as possible so that you have a particular place to do each kind of work. Then whenever you approach a particular work area, you will automatically start thinking about the kinds of tasks you normally perform there.

If you can do each task at a specific time, the arrangement will be even better. If you are interrupted and must do something else, switch to the appropriate location. If you begin to think about other things, get up and move for a few moments, then come back. Think of yourself as a television series: same time, same place, same content.