The two most difficult habits for me are waking up early and going to the gym.
I have been exercising for years, mainly basketball and running, I keep in shape but I have never had muscles. I have gone to the gym for a maximum of two or three months in a row, my excuse has been the commute (the gym where I lasted the longest was in the same building where I lived).
Three weeks ago I started again but with a different approach. Instead of forcing myself to go certain days of the week and blaming myself if I don’t go, I will be more flexible, giving myself “permission” to rest if one day I can’t go, with only one rule: Do not skip two days in a row. This is the two-day rule and I got it from Matt D’Avella, a guy I follow and I like how he thinks.
The idea is that it will allow me to be flexible without quitting the habit. The rule forces me to go at least three times a week without feeling guilt, even if it is just to walk, but to go so as not to lose the streak. So far I have gone four or five days a week and I have already passed the pain phase 😮💨. The gym is a 12-minute walk away so there is no excuse.
I think the rule can apply to other things like making progress on projects; I will try to do it with my course recordings but the main experiment will be exercise. I will post if it works for me or not in a few months.
If you want to know more about the two-day rule, you can check Matt’s YouTube channel.