You see, I am anti-habits.

I have actively avoided anything ever resembling a habit – as, for some reason, I link it to addiction.  I am a gal who gave up coffee because I didn’t want a habit. (Yes I am doing just fine and thanks for asking.)

I see life more through the lens of changes. What changes can I make? What tweaks do I need to make to move forward rather than trying to create habits that I repeat over and over again. I prefer to stay open minded, a non-creature of habit.

I started to run my no-habits idea past a few friends and they challenged me on my ‘no habits’ philosophy using champagne and trainers and exhibits A and B. I did explain that luxuries were not habits.

I have decided that I prefer to define things that I regularly DON’T do as my habits. So I guess, my friends are right, I have got habits but they are not the kinds of things that someone can make an app out of, like eating a keto diet.

Make Time For Whatever Energizes You.

KIM MCKAY

My morning routine.

First thing:

Rule 1:

DON’T check iPhone, TV or iPad for a least 30 minutes so I check in with myself in my device-free bedroom.

Rule 2:

DON’T forget my MIA.

To make sure I am ready to take on the day, I like to think about my MIA for the day (Most Important Activity). I leave email alone until I have either done or at least identified my MIA. (Apologies for stealing the Missing In Action Acronym.)

It completely changed my focus from geographical offices as I moved foward with a global team of specialists utilising the technology of today.   Getting OUT of any habits and routines, cleared space for this thinking in 2018 and I was more ready for 2020 than most.

What good would a strict morning routine in Rushcutter’s Bay with a specific coffee run and time schedule do for my life in lockdown?

Personally, I intend to challenge and change my relationship to work, how I work, how often I work and with whom I work – and put any habits lurking about on notice. For 2021, my aim is to work smarter, for less time and more effectively by playing only to my strengths and to the strengths of those around me. I am relentlessly focused on that for the year ahead, always asking myself: ‘what does success look like?’ and ‘how are we going to get there?’.

Despite so much change in the world – technological, political, environmental, so many marketers keep doing what they are doing in the face of this change – to give themselves some semblance of control. (I told you habits can be bad didn’t I?) This is not the way to proceed.  What we did yesterday, won’t work tomorrow.  It won’t.  

You need to review your measures of success and the solutions that are getting you there but most of all you need to understand a few simple rules:

• The game is won in the margins – take calculated risks to win
• Do something very, very well and don’t do many, many things badly
• Focus on what makes you stronger and avoid what doesn’t
• Look for improvements not problems
• Share your stories
• Question

And most importantly, if you do one thing routinely, make it this