Step 1: Eliminate Bad Habits

The first step to transforming your life may seem straightforward, but it's often challenging to execute. You must actively work to eliminate harmful habits. While you're likely aware of the necessity to stop these behaviors, understanding the "why" is crucial. Below, I’ll outline some common bad habits and practical solutions to overcome them.

To effectively combat bad habits, start by making them less visible in your daily life. Then, make them unattractive, reminding yourself that these habits are detrimental. Finally, ensure that engaging in these habits offers no reward.

Remember, even minor adjustments can aid in curtailing bad habits. It's unrealistic to expect an overnight change, but gradual improvements are possible over time. Set realistic and attainable goals for yourself.

Staying Up Late and Waking Up Late

To foster an earlier bedtime, establish a target sleep time that suits you. My personal goal is to be in bed by 8:30 PM and awake by 4 AM. Once your desired bedtime is set, reflect on the reasons behind it. For instance, I aim to go to bed early to carve out an hour of focused work in the morning.

Transitioning to an earlier bedtime can be done incrementally—try going to bed 15 minutes earlier each day. Productivity tends to peak in the morning, so completing your priority tasks early can leave you feeling accomplished.

If budget allows, consider investing in a light alarm clock. I’ve found that waking up to a simulated sunrise promotes a healthier awakening.

The action step is to determine your ideal sleeping and waking times and gradually adjust by 15 minutes daily. Additionally, recognize the negative impacts of waking up late.

Excessive Video Game Playing

The issue with video games is that they transport you to a fictional realm, leaving reality unchanged at the end of the day. Two years ago, I was like most teens, coming home from school to play video games for several hours daily.

While I believe occasional gaming is acceptable, it's important to set limits. I decided to quit gaming entirely a few months ago, but for those who still play, establish a daily limit of 2.5 hours and reduce that time by 15 minutes each day until you reach a comfortable amount.

Track your gaming time in a Notion document, and limit gaming to evenings after completing essential tasks.

Remember, video games can be mentally taxing, so avoid playing before bedtime to ensure better sleep.

The action step is to define your reasons for wanting to cut back on gaming, set a time limit, and reduce it daily until you reach your desired goal.

Excessive Streaming on Netflix

Another common habit is binge-watching streaming services like Netflix. Similar to gaming, begin by understanding why you want to reduce this habit. Personally, I find that while Netflix is entertaining, it doesn't contribute positively to my life goals. I limit myself to 3.5 hours per week.

Set a daily limit—perhaps 2 hours—and gradually decrease it by 15 minutes each day until you find a balance that feels right for you. Remember, watching shows can be relaxing, but moderation is key.

The action step here is to identify your motivations for watching less and implement a daily time limit that you can reduce progressively.

Scrolling Through Shorts on Social Media

One habit that many teens struggle with is excessive scrolling through short videos on platforms like TikTok or Instagram. I too faced this challenge a few years back when I found myself glued to TikTok for hours.

To combat this, I initially tried to set a limit using my phone's settings, but it was too easy to extend that time. Ultimately, I deleted these apps, which significantly improved my focus.

Consider deleting social media apps that encourage mindless scrolling. I kept Medium and YouTube for their valuable content, but removing distractions made a noticeable difference.

The action step is to delete apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat to regain control over your time.

After identifying solutions for your bad habits, it’s time to take action and implement my suggested strategies.

Step 2: Cultivating New Healthy Habits

The second step complements the first by fostering new, positive habits. This shift provides alternatives to fill the time freed up by reducing bad habits.

Goal Setting

Establishing goals is crucial for maintaining focus. At the beginning of this year, I created both long-term and short-term goals. I wrote down my aspirations for the year, as well as monthly and quarterly objectives for my side projects.

When I have clear goals, I feel motivated to achieve them and can assess my progress each month.

As an action step, jot down one yearly goal and one monthly goal today, and continue this practice at the start of each month.

Journaling

I have a passion for journaling, which offers me invaluable insights into my life. I maintain a daily journal to reflect on my experiences and express gratitude. Additionally, I keep a monthly journal to document significant events throughout the year, creating a record I can revisit later.

The action step is to start a monthly journal to capture important moments and reflections.

Physical Activity

Engaging in physical activity is essential for overall health. I began a routine of working out three times a week for 30 minutes at home. You don’t need a gym membership; there are plenty of effective home workouts available.

The action step is to commit to three workout sessions each week.

Morning Routine

If you haven't already, consider establishing a morning routine. It helps energize and awaken you for the day ahead. A routine doesn't need to be lengthy; even 10 to 30 minutes can suffice.

The action step is to discover a morning routine that energizes you in a short amount of time.

Daily Self-Education

The education system often overlooks essential life skills, such as financial literacy and entrepreneurship. It’s vital to educate yourself using resources like YouTube. I strive to watch at least one educational video daily.

The action step is to commit to watching one educational YouTube video each day.

Productivity System

Creating an effective productivity system is one of the most important habits for getting work done. I developed a productivity framework that includes a to-do list, calendar, and time tracking.

If you lack a productivity system, I offer resources to help you establish one.

Reading

Reading is often undervalued in today's fast-paced world. Many people dedicate their lives to knowledge that you can absorb from a book for a fraction of the cost. I make it a point to read for at least 15 minutes daily, and if time permits, I extend it to 30 minutes.

The action step is to start tomorrow by picking up a non-fiction book and reading for 15 minutes each day. You'll be amazed at how much you can learn.

My Transformation

To conclude, I want to share how I transformed my life over the past year primarily through these two steps. I started by developing the new habit of watching daily YouTube videos about investing, which led to significant returns. I also focused on enhancing my productivity with insights from Ali Abdaal, all while breaking free from video games and mindless shorts.

This gradual process of shedding bad habits and embracing new, healthy ones has brought me to where I am today. I firmly believe that anyone can achieve this transformation; I am not exceptional.

Now that you're familiar with this two-step process, it's time to enter the action phase. I also created a blog post about a simple trick to help you start adopting healthy habits effortlessly.