Keep Consistent Early

Variety adds spice to life. Repeating the same actions can lead to monotony and tedium. While we often find comfort in familiar routines, it's important to be open to change if we desire different outcomes.

However, the path to improvement often hinges on consistency. Habits are formed through repeated actions. Constantly changing our approach can prevent the formation of the necessary routines.

This dilemma highlights a key principle: improvement requires a balance between consistency and variety. Establishing good habits requires a consistent approach. Following the same steps repeatedly helps these habits take root.

This doesn’t mean you can’t introduce variety. You can experiment and try new tactics. However, the habits that endure are those that are practiced consistently.

Building positive habits is crucial. Abandoning a positive habit out of boredom can undo the progress you've made.

At the same time, it's important to introduce changes periodically. As Darren Hardy suggests in The Compound Effect, occasionally interrupting your routines prevents life from becoming stale. He says, “Every so often I like to interrupt my routines. Otherwise, life gets stale and I plateau.”

So, when should you be consistent and when should you change your routines? The key is to assess two factors.

First, consider whether you are still making progress. If you are, stick with your current approach. Changing things up could halt your progress.

However, if you've hit a plateau, it might be time for a change. Introducing variety can reignite your progress and keep you moving towards your goals.

The second factor to consider is time. In the early stages, it's important to be consistent to build the habit. This consistency helps you perform the actions automatically, without having to think about them.

If you haven't reached this point yet, avoid changing things too quickly. Constantly changing your approach will prevent you from building the habit and keep you from making progress.

Variety can be a powerful tool for improvement, but it can also hinder your progress if not used wisely. Early on, focus on consistency to build the habit. Once the habit is established, you can introduce variations to keep things interesting and continue to grow. Avoid changing things for the sake of change; instead, invest the time to build solid habits through consistency.