The link above will take you to a page written by James Clear. James has written an entire book on habits. I haven’t read the whole thing but know many people who have, and they have nothing but great things to say. This blog is an example of a good habit. I write it daily, and I would like to do more, but with my current commitments, this is the most I’m capable of at the moment, the future may change that. Habits are often like that, building a muscle for when you reach a new level that requires a new amount of commitment.
If habits build the strength we need, then adding onto that, standards are also important. Standards are about what is acceptable. Can we do 100 pushups? Do we count them if they are sloppy with bad form?
How will we measure our habits without standards? Is the standard of writing daily good? What about the quality? What about the word count? What about picking titles? I’m a bit ashamed to admit this, but I don’t have too many standards for this blog. Not that I don’t want to produce quality, but that I don’t often spellcheck for the daily posts because I see them as drafts for bigger future pieces. However, keeping the spelling and grammar standard a bit lower, enables me to put this work out daily even with a hectic life.
In the future, a guide outlining my personal standards for each piece will be put together. I encourage you to do the same. Setting the standards of your life to paper may just help you think out how things should operate in your world. What’s the most weight you can gain before dieting? What’s the most you’ll let your house get out of control before a cleaning spree? What’s the level of the work you want to do? How much will you put up with at work?
The lists are really endless as to what standards to write down, but I can promise you this, just by doing it, what comes into your head will show you where your priorities are. Give it a shot.
None of this is Right 