I give myself challenges to complete every so often on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
These experiments help me produce more content, seeing as this is the motive currently. However, this model was very different just a few months ago. In January, my challenges were in the sphere of communication. I challenged myself to spark at least one substantial conversation with a new person every week. Working in customer service, this wasn't too hard to achieve but still rather exhausting for an introvert. Another experiment I had was to smile and greet everyone I passed on the street. It seems obvious, but again, quite a challenge for an introvert.
Since COVID-19 and unemployment hit me hard, I refocused my little challenges into bigger projects that are both challenging and exciting to accomplish.
- read 100 books in 2020
- learn how to code a few days every week
- write one blog post every day on this website,
- write one blog post every other day over at redgregory.com
- and the third is going to be to vlog my productivity and tips over on YouTube,
- the new experiment → draw what I see every day. (learn how to "art")
Why "don't break the chain" works
I'm no gamification lover when it comes to productivity. I also don't enjoy trying to "one-up myself" every day — that's only anxiety-inducing. There's something simple and sweet about the 'don't break the chain' method. I'm a visual learner. I like it when my calendar is filled in, I like it when all of my to-dos are checked off on a sticky-note in plain sight. I like to stare at the glory of my accomplishments every time I sit down at my desk.
I apply one color for each daily habit, and I want to see a rainbow of highlighter streaks for Monday through Friday at the end of the week. If one color broke on Wednesday, I cringe a bit. The inconsistency is enough to do better the next go around.