Newsletter: How to form a new habit (March 8, 2024)
- Sean McCormick
- Mar 7, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 30
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Hi friends,
Have you wanted to pick up a new habit, but just feel too exhausted at the end of the day?
Perhaps, you want to dive into that book your mentor recommended, but the thought of more work at the end of the day is revolting.
Netflix, please!
In my quest to evolve and grow, I've found a couple of hacks I've successfully implemented, and tested for validity with willing mentees and students.
Want to learn my secrets?
Secret #1: Start with the hard stuff
One of the big secrets to getting things done is starting with the hard stuff.
When you do this, everything that follows feels easier.
You may have intuitively known that starting earlier was a good way to get the momentum going, but did you ever see it visually represented? Check out the diagram below to see why starting with ONE good choice can automatically set your day on a better course.
So now that you know how important it is to start your day with something that feels like a "good choice," let me share my number one hack for making a good choice the easiest thing in the world.
Secret #2: Commit for 2 minutes or less
To start your day with a good choice, use the two-minute or less rule.
Whatever habit you are trying to build, instead of committing to something that feels overwhelming and self-defeating, only commit to the tiniest amount you are willing to do.
For example, if you want to start reading at night, instead of tracking how many books you finished (a lagging indicator), start by tracking whether or not you opened your book today (a leading indicator).
Check out how this looked in my life last month.
Final thought
If you are a parent or educator who wants to teach this to your student, start by trying this method out to see if it works for you. Remember, to write the book, you must become the book.
Other resources
P.S. If you want to work on executive function skills with your students, consider joining hundreds of other educators and parents who have completed my Semester Success Blueprint Course. In less than 2 hours, this comprehensive course will teach you and your student the system I developed to help hundreds of students learn how to manage school effectively and raise their self-awareness and engagement with school.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and growing my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.
Want me to speak on executive function skills at your event? Learn more about my speaking topics here.