Does it Fall Out of Existence if You’re Not Doing it Daily?

Over the years, I’ve experimented with a variety of approaches:

• I’ve done things sporadically or by the seat of my pants, e.g., writing a new song as inspiration strikes.
• I’ve created schedules based on consistency, e.g., publishing a new blog post once per week.
• I’ve created schedules based on daily habits, e.g., going for a walk once per day.
• I’ve quit things for a period and have returned to them, e.g., writing a book.

What I’ve discovered is that every approach is valid. They are all tools. And as we all know, a hammer is the perfect tool for pounding nails, but not for sawing wood.

The sporadic approach is great for the example given (writing songs as inspiration strikes), especially if your career doesn’t depend on writing songs.

Having a weekly schedule for certain activities is a great way to create expectations with your audience and to remain disciplined in producing something for them (like a podcast).

Daily habits will seem grueling at times, but they can be very fulfilling and rewarding if you stick to them.

The last approach, quitting and starting, starting and quitting, may appear to have the least value at first brush. But we all need to step away from certain activities at certain times. And returning to these passions or projects fresh can spark inspiration as never before. For example, going on vacation for two weeks and leaving your work at home (I mean really leaving your work at home).

To make the most of this, you will need to look at what works best for what activity.

I’ve remained consistent with working out four times per week for several months now, so I know I have a proven, working system for my workouts.

But this system doesn’t work for writing. I find publishing daily truly is the best way, though I have started and stopped this practice on a couple of occasions. I’ve found meditation to be the same way. If I’m not doing it daily, I’m not doing it.

Likewise, with any projects that matter, daily action is the only way. It can be very difficult to get back into a project you haven’t touched in a while and to regain the momentum you had going.

The goal, then, is to find a system that works for everything that matters to you.

Summarily, things do have a way of falling out of existence if not acted upon daily.

In an ideal world, you would do something daily to move your key projects forward.

Don't die with your music still in you. Accomplish more with the Productivity, Performance & Profits Blackbook.