Of all the pros and cons in the freelance life, one of the most gratifying aspects is not having to run out the door every morning to a rush hour commute. Yet no matter how busy or how open our schedules may be, by the end of the day it’s not uncommon to feel that we’ve missed out on important opportunities — for self-care, to keep clutter from piling up around us, not accomplishing as much as we’d hoped when the morning began.

Willpower is the hard way
Maybe you have plenty of work but find that you’re not managing to exercise and that your fridge is full of Grubhub deliveries. Maybe you’re juggling professional life and a family. When the day is yours to plan, it’s up to you to get the most out of it.

So does changing our habits simply require more willpower, gritting our teeth and starting an ambitious new regimen? Anyone who’s made New Years resolutions has probably noticed a much shorter list of intended behaviors by springtime. It can be done by sheer will…but it’s not easy…and there’s a more effective, less painful way: habit design.

Tiny Habits are easier
Stanford University’s BJ Fogg has developed a methodology for crafting behaviors that create real and lasting change. By beginning with very small steps and adjusting our environments to support our goals, we can make our desired behaviors more automatic. He calls this Tiny Habits.

And instead of relying on willpower, it leverages the way our brains make habits. So if you aren’t getting around to flossing your teeth, floss just one tooth. Not making it to the gym the way you planned? Put your shoes near the door. Don’t worry about actually getting out of the house in the beginning but be sure to CELEBRATE your new action. Our brains look for a reward when creating new habits and a fist pump or simply saying “yes!!” provide that emotion.

Where to begin
Start by deciding on which new behaviors matter most to you and where in your day you might be successful at making these changes. Even during the busiest days there should be a few moments to insert a new habit; Tiny Habits are defined as taking 30 seconds or less. And linking the habit to an action or behavior you already practice makes success more likely.

Working for yourself, deciding when and where to get things done can feel wonderful. Leveraging behavior design to find time for the things that keep life in balance can make freelancing even more satisfying.

Why this post on a content strategy website?
If you're wondering about a habit design post on my website, it's because in addition to being a freelance content marketing strategist, I’ve practiced Tiny Habits for over 7 years. Just this year I became certified as a Tiny Habits coach. If you’d like to know more about Tiny Habits and behavior design, feel free to reach out to me: info@coherentcommunicationstrategies.com