Choose Key Habits
There are particular habits that can radically change your life for the better. These are simple practices that affect other areas of your life almost without you realizing it.
For example, it’s a very good idea to get into the habit of washing your plate immediately after eating. However, it’s unlikely that this practice will result in drastic changes beyond a well-ordered kitchen. On the other hand, a habit like Bible reading and meditation first thing every morning can completely change the tone of your day. Other key habits are things that make you physically stronger, such as exercising or eating more vegetables. Developing these types of practices will give your body more energy to better fulfill your responsibilities.
Here are more ideas for key habits:
• Reading
• Praying
• Planning your day
• Eating less sugar
• Getting enough sleep
• Going to bed at the same time every day
• Drinking enough water
• Tidying up the house before going to bed
There are hundreds of small daily decisions we make that alter the course of our lives.
It sounds a bit dramatic, but it’s true. In Atomic Habits, James Clear uses the example of the flight path of an airplane: If a pilot leaves Los Angeles airport with the intention of arriving in New York but changes his direction only 3.5 degrees south, the plane will end up in Washington, D.C., some 362 miles from his destination. Clear says, “A small shift in direction [of the aircraft] can lead to a very meaningful change in destination.”
When we talk about productivity, we tend to set idealistic goals without realizing that our daily practices take us in the opposite direction. We say, for example, that we want to keep our affairs in order. We want to be able to know what things we should do every day. That is the goal. But how are we going to achieve it? If every time a new responsibility comes along at work you have a habit of simply saying, “Okay, I’ll take care of it,” and then forget what you were asked to do, you’re walking in the opposite direction of your goal. The solution is to visualize your goal and chart a path of habits that will lead you toward it. If you want to get organized, you could start by designating a space for each item on your desk and develop the habit of returning each tool to its place when you’re done using it. At first it will be difficult, but little by little it will become as natural as it used to be to leave those things anywhere else. It’s these kinds of small habits that, over time, will lead us to become the productive people we want to be. As Clear writes, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
We underestimate the power of perseverance, both in the good as well as the bad. Small but steady steps are much more effective in getting us to our goal than an occasional big leap. An important aspect of productive living is learning to identify small changes that, over time, can transform the way we use the resources we have to love God and others. The productive person seeks to develop simple practices that will lead them in the right direction.
In his book Keep in Step With the Spirit, theologian J.I. Packer explains a bit about the importance of habits in Christian sanctification, the process through which we are progressively set apart from sin and become more like Jesus. Packer writes that “habit forming is the Spirit’s ordinary way of leading us on in holiness.” Holy habits make us holy people and sinful habits make us sinful people. This does not mean that sanctification is a human work but that God has decided to use our own efforts as part of the process. Packer states:
Holy habits, though formed … by self-discipline and effort, are not natural products. The discipline and effort must be blessed by the Holy Spirit, or they would achieve nothing. … Holiness by habit forming is not self-sanctification by self-effort, but is simply a matter of understanding the Spirit’s method and then keeping in step with him.
The race of faith is a marathon that lasts a lifetime. God isn’t going to teleport us to the finish line. Thus, our calling is to put one foot in front of the other, again and again, until we complete the journey. And behind every step is God himself, sustaining and directing us.
The most important holy habits are our spiritual disciplines. In fact, these crucial practices of the Christian life are also known as “habits of grace,” as David Mathis describes them. Donald S. Whitney defines spiritual disciplines as “those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Whitney lists 10 disciplines in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, including Bible reading, prayer, evangelism, and silence. Each of these disciplines, carried out regularly and in the power of the Spirit, is used by God to transform our character for his glory and the good of others.
This directly affects our productivity. If productivity is a matter of character — a character of faith, purpose, diligence, and depth, like that of our Lord — then productivity is tied to our sanctification. Our character is formed on a daily basis through the many decisions we make every day.
Habits make productive living second nature. Christians want honoring God to be a daily lifestyle, and that is precisely what habits are all about. Goals can give us a direction to aim for, but good habits — the small, everyday productive practices — are what will get us there.
The Way to the Heart of True Productivity
Good habits are not formed by wishing them into existence. If our natural tendency were to cultivate them, the whole world would live a productive life all the time. But the reality is that if you want to develop your character through the development of productive habits, you will have to make changes.
To develop good habits, you don’t have to rely on your willpower alone. In fact, the less you need to use it, the better. It’s true that the world we live in is full of distractions and junk food, but the same does not have to be said of our own home or workplace. To begin, make your physical environment a place that supports productivity, small oases that promote honoring the Lord.
Create the best environment you can to live the life you want to live. If you don’t want your first activity after waking up to be looking at your phone, turn it off and put it in a drawer; stop putting it on your nightstand (yes, it’s time to buy an alarm clock). If you want to eat healthy, stop buying junk food and fill your refrigerator with fruits and vegetables. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Don’t expect to overcome the temptation of distractions by having them in front of you at every turn. Organize your desk, your room, your cupboard, and any space you can to encourage the development of good habits.
It’s normal to feel excited and want to transform your life overnight. Avoid falling into the trap. Immediate radical changes tend to not last long. It’s better to go slowly but surely. Choose one habit and focus on it until it becomes a natural part of your routine. By definition, a habit requires little or no reflection to perform. It’s best to start with just one thing and resist the desire to change your whole life overnight. Start with a small change.
Changing our behavior takes time and effort. Without realizing it, we have spent our entire lives developing practices that impede our productivity. It’s important not to be too hard on yourself. Persevere. And remember, God is the one most interested in transforming us.
Content adapted from Make the Most of Your Productivity: A Guide to Honoring God with Your Time by Ana Ávila, ©2024. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.