One percent better is all it takes.
1% better.
It doesn’t take a home run to perfectionism which often introduces waves of anxiety and self-doubt about our abilities that make us quit before we even swing the bat and get on first base.
1% better is all it takes to start moving the needle forward in your life.
So please stop listening to those that tell you that you must go hard and fast right out the gate, hit the gym five days a week for an hour, forget sleep, forget your family, sacrifice all you got, and make a blood pact with going vegan and all these things that you’re supposed to do if you don’t want to be an insert here.
These people often have crazy adrenaline and an addiction trait that keeps them going for long periods regardless of the consequences.
Don’t get me wrong; some people have built a healthy relationship with a commitment to the gym, healthier eating habits, and entrepreneurship.
Still, these people aren’t usually the ones yelling at you to drop everything for their narrative of what it means to be healthy, in shape, or successful.
These people, for sure, aren’t the ones that are putting self-doubt narratives into your subconscious before you even start.
Not everyone responds best to aggression or harsh name-calling. Luckily, listening to these passive aggressions that make us feel less than isn’t the only option at our disposal.
Instead, just becoming 1% better can give you the results you want without additional stress added to your already full plate.
So what is 1% better?
1% better means making small daily choices that will add up over the long term.
I accumulated small but consistent habits that ultimately led to unimaginable results when I started. — James Clear
Here are five 1% better actionable steps you can take to see results in six months.
- Drinking two glasses of water before noon can jumpstart hydration after a night’s sleep.
This can put you in the mindset of being intentional in the morning.
- Start taking a vitamin each morning to signal to your subconscious that you are a health-conscious individual.
Health starts with one step, and vitamins are a great support system for your immune system.
- Plan out your three main priorities each day and focus on those three things, and anything outside of those three tasks is non-essential to that day.
Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much, and start with just three tasks you want to tackle each new day.
- If you drink a beer or two every night but feel crappy throughout the week for doing so, instead of quitting cold turkey, alternate nights.
So Monday, have a beer, Tuesday drink sparkling water, Wednesday have your beer, Thursday drink water, and so on; this will help your body adapt over time, and the cravings will lessen.
- Suppose you are constantly refreshing your bank balance due to overspending because every night is hanging with friends.
Designate certain days as no spend and stick those days out and then make it a goal to budget on the days you do head out.
These small actionable steps will allow you to implement change in your life without becoming overwhelmed on top of what is already on your heavy plate in life.
How did the 1% rule quadruple my life?
- I lost 45 pounds over the last seven months through a set caloric intake and a minimum of 5,000 steps five days a week. No gym. No diet. No restrictions.
- I built a $10,000 investment portfolio over two years. No high income contributed to that. Instead, I contributed each month what I could and kept focused.
- I became a better teacher by homeschooling my son by understanding that daily 1% habits compound learning and understanding of concepts.
- I have maintained a strict regimen in the morning of taking daily vitamins since October 21 and haven't missed a day, and I feel better each day for it.
- I have put better effort into those I care about and have developed more robust relationships.
These are just some of the areas that I apply the 1% rule, and here are some other ways you can too.
- Instead of going home and watching TV for the next five hours, use one of those hours to learn about investing and about how it can change your financial future.
If you still struggle with childhood trauma or a recent heartbreak, spend thirty minutes reading self-help articles or Youtube videos on doing some inner work.
Get 1% better at work, and instead of gossiping with your coworkers about Susan, spend more time working on a side project or learning a new skill.
1% better means you slowly build the masterpiece you want to become.
Instead of burnout in a short, compounded length of time that works against you, you spend time implementing changes that work with your chemistry and habits that will change your behavior from the inside out.
In Conclusion.
The best way to start building foundational habits and seeing the results you want is to start slow and allow growth to happen over time.
Time is your best friend when approaching new goals.
Time allows habits to form effortlessly without tipping over your heavy plate, which can include anything from a house full of kids, a demanding career, taking care of an ailing relative, etc.