What Do You Know About Small Intentional Objectives?

how to control yourself

Today, I invite you to a very simple experiment. Imagine that, from now on, you decide to clap your hands twice every day at 2 PM. Do you think you can do it? The question might seem absurd. Yet, it shows that small intentions are better than grand ones because they yield results: of course, you’ll succeed! 

Now imagine that your small intentions are, for example, to write 50 words, read 2 pages, study a language for 8 minutes, or do 2 sit-ups. The impact of these new habits over a year will already be considerable. How can you not feel guilty for an alleged lack of motivation to change your mini-habits? That’s what Small Intentional Objectives (SIO) teaches us.

You guessed it: everyone has had the unpleasant experience of trying to adopt a new habit but failing. The failure to discipline yourself to do what you intended erodes your self-confidence and pushes you further away from reaching your goals. You feel defeated in advance and unable to control yourself - a particularly frustrating feeling.

So, why can small habits initiate major changes in our usual behaviors? The answer to this question lies in how the human brain works. Science has discovered that motivation and strength of character are not the most important factors when it comes to changing your practices. The strategy to get there, however, must be revised! The strategy of mini-habits works with how our brain functions rather than against it. That’s why it’s effective.

The First Step is Crucial

The first step is the most important when replacing an automatic habit that may harm your physical and mental health with a better one.

How Do You Do It?

It’s about reducing a routine you want to adopt to its simplest form. Doing this new gesture should feel easy for you (everything is relative) and not very restrictive. 

For example, 

• learning four new French words per day instead of a sentence, 
• having 2 positive thoughts each day instead of reevaluating all your perceptions, 
• being grateful for just a simple thing daily, or 
• doing 3 floor exercises in your living room instead of signing up for a gym.

How Do SIOs Work?

You only need a little willpower to implement a mini-habit. Gradually, we see that our willpower can effectively produce results, which motivates us to put a bit more effort into it, and so on, until a mini-habit transforms into a habit: a behavior that becomes second nature and faces no resistance.

Remember: the bigger the challenge, the longer it will take to form your new habit. But why are mini-habits so important?

Because they are responsible for 45% of our behavior, according to studies conducted at Universities related to how the human brain works. Also, because in times of stress, instead of thinking and going through a decision-making process, the human brain falls back on its patterns. Imagine how good habits can help you during stressful situations. They can be of great support!

So, what micro-goal are you aiming for today?

To learn more, contact me - I’ll help you with personal development.