The Stephen King-trick which will change your life

It's 6:00 am, your alarm goes off and you have this familiar conversation with yourself about why you should stay in bed just for another 10 minutes. You literally know the script word for word, however, you are still struggling to find a way out. Sounds familiar? Fortunately, not every day and not in every period of my life, but I still have these conversations with my lazy side. And there is a drill you can apply to avoid these morning conversations. I read this pretty interesting concept from Stephen King many years ago, and it still sticks with me, being reinforced from time to time by other articles, videos, and podcasts.

Consistency, basically means for me to accept the fact that you are not always motivated and filled with a burning desire to do your passion. I don't believe in "Do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life" BS, because if you live your life like this, you will not be prepared for the days when you have some personal issues to deal with, or just a rainy day and you end up thinking that you may have chosen the wrong passion/profession. I have an old physical timer, which is now more of a symbol for me because it's not just an object, it's the backbone of my approach to life. I set this countdown timer for 60 minutes, and I start it every single day. Even if it's my birthday, even if it's January 1st, even if I was blackout drunk the day before. When I start the timer, it means I focus 100% on the stuff I am doing. "Do not disturb" mode is on, there is no incoming call important enough to answer, there is no text to reply. I write my posts with this method, I do my 30-minute Spanish comprehensible input this way, and 1 hour of learning per day.

Let me paint you a worst-case scenario to help you understand why this concept is so powerful. You start your timer, and you don't have the faintest idea what you should write. You just sit in front of the screen, and you are looking at the blank page. It can be pointless and painful at first, but I guarantee you if you don't allow yourself to do anything else in this hour and you take it seriously, you will start to write in 10 to 20 minutes. It's really just about focusing on the task you have and closing out the word.

Here's another very important rule for the method. Once you start the timer, you can't pause it, except if you don't have a full hour to work. This is because if we didn't have this exception, you wouldn't start working if you only had 30 minutes before you have to go to work for example. The rule would be just another excuse not to work.

In my next article, I will write about ,,trigger moves" in another context, but I have to mention it here as well. So, how do we make this process a little easier? By implementing what I like to call the "trigger move." This is the moment when you start the action that is almost irreversible. For example, if you want to take a cold shower, the trigger move is simply opening the cold water. If you want to wake up early, the trigger move is standing up and staying on your feet for a few minutes next to your bed. If you want to start learning something new, the trigger move is setting a timer and starting the first task. If you want to speak to new people, including making those dreaded cold calls, the trigger move is simply starting the call. This can be a literal one-second action, but it sets the stage for the rest of the experience. Our trigger move is here, starting the timer. It has to mean that you are not allowed to do anything else in the next 60 minutes.

Let's take a moment to reflect on those lazy days and allow me to share some philosophical insights. If you think about it logically, those unmotivated, lazy days present an opportunity to make a difference. This is the time where you can stand out because most people don't take action during such times. It's the difference between success and failure. Just consider this, everybody goes to the gym when they feel like it, but it's the days when they don't feel like going that separates the successful from the unsuccessful.

In conclusion, adopting the consistency method can be a game-changer in your life. By setting a timer for just one hour each day and focusing solely on your tasks during that time, you can achieve more than you ever thought possible. The "trigger move" is a powerful tool to help you take that first step towards success. Remember, it's okay to have days when you're not feeling motivated, but consistency is the key to achieving your goals. With discipline, determination, and the consistency method, you can conquer any challenge that comes your way! 💪😉

One trick, which helps consistency no matter what