It’s September! I’m on round two of what I’ve dubbed my September Sabbatical, otherwise known as my yearly time to take a one-month recess from podcast production.
Throughout September, we’re airing some of the most insightful, inspiring interviews from the archives. You’ll hear from experts discussing topics like habits, happiness, focus, digital minimalism, classic financial lessons and easy-to-make financial mistakes. Enjoy!
Does this sound like you?
You want to exercise, but you can never find the time for a workout. Eventually, you grow tired of putting exercise off. You commit to working out every morning. You become so enthusiastic, you buy new gym clothes for the occasion.
Your enthusiasm carries you for five days, and on day six, you’re swamped with work. You promise yourself you’ll exercise tomorrow – after all, taking a break for one day won’t hurt. And then … you never get back on the wagon. The cycle repeats.
Most habits and routines start with good intentions. But good intentions aren’t enough to carry you through tough times. Good intentions aren’t enough to overcome the excuses you’ll make, either.
That’s what today’s guest, Gretchen Rubin, is here to explore.
Gretchen Rubin is the New York Times best-selling author of The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, and The Four Tendencies. She joins us on the podcast to discuss the loopholes that we use – the excuses that we make – when it comes to breaking bad habits and forming good habits. Why is this important? The more aware we are of loopholes, the better we can resist them.
Here’s a preview of the loopholes:
- False choice: I can’t exercise because I’m so busy with work.
- Moral licensing: I’ve been on a saving streak lately so I can treat myself just this once. Plus, I plan on working overtime later this month.
- Tomorrow: This month will be an expensive one. I’ll save more next month to make up for it.
- Lack of control: I can’t help but buy a coffee on my way to work – I always pass the shop!
- Planning to fail: I’ll work late tonight so I have less work to do tomorrow and more time for my side hustle. Oops…I overslept, and now my schedule is ruined.
- “This doesn’t count”: I’m free to spend on vacation because it’s a special occasion – even if I didn’t properly budget for it.
- Questionable assumption: I’m so far behind on retirement savings, why even bother starting?
- Concern for others: My friends invited me to an expensive restaurant and I have to go because it’s rude to decline their invitation.
- Fake self-actualization: This flight is super cheap – who knows when this kind of sale will happen again? I should go for it now, even if I don’t have the savings.
- One-coin: Buying a $5 meal won’t break the bank. (But those individual instances of $5 meals add up.)
Do any of these loopholes resonate with you? In this episode, Gretchen shares her strategies for overcoming these excuses and developing good habits once and for all.
You’ll enjoy this episode if…
- You’re an expert at justifying why you shouldn’t take action today.
- You talk yourself out of doing good things more often than you’d like to admit.
- You allow others to talk you into doing bad things more often than you’d like to admit.
- You know what steps you need to take to achieve a goal, but you just can’t seem to bring your plan to fruition.
Resources Mentioned:
- Gretchen’s website
- The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
- Better Than Before, by Gretchen Rubin
- The Four Tendencies Quiz
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