The Habit That Changed How I Work

Researchers estimate that around 40% of what we do every day happens out of habit.
It takes somewhere between 18 and 254 days to form one. After about 66 days, it starts to feel automatic.

I used to find it impossible to focus on the important things when there were so many things to get done. I’d think about all of them, but end up doing none of them.

Decision fatigue would set in, deadlines slipped, and I missed opportunities because I was trying to focus on everything at once.
It had a negative impact on my life.
It needed to change.

And it did.

At the time, I was working as a junior programmer.
We were given notebooks to write down our logic and workflow before we even touched a keyboard.
I did this most mornings and it had a real effect.
It made me think more clearly. It helped me break big things into smaller parts.
It gave me a path to follow. A short list of things to focus on.

I found I remembered more too. Writing made things stick.
By the end of the day, I could see progress. The code was written, the list was ticked, and I felt happier.
Without realising it, I’d built a habit. One that I still rely on today.

I started doing the same thing outside of work.
If I needed to clean the house, I’d choose one room, one cupboard, one corner. By not trying to do it all, I could actually finish something.
Each small step made the rest easier.

It’s the same with anything that feels too big. You don’t write a book in a day or build a system in one go.
You do it bit by bit. Line by line. Page by page.

If you want to start a new habit, don’t wait for the perfect time.
Pick one small thing that matters and start today.

Keep it simple.
Tie it to something you already do, this reduces friction.
While you're having a coffee in the morning, make your list.

Writing things down takes your attention away from devices, allowing you to think and focus without interruption.
It sounds small, but it changes how you process things.

Keep it visible - keeping something visible turns intention into intent.
Then do it again tomorrow.

By repeating the process you start to build a habit.
When you reset each day, you restore focus and motivation.
As you make progress, momentum strengthens and you are more likely to finish what you started.

That small daily habit eventually became Eightly.
A way to choose what matters, write it down, and begin again tomorrow.

Do what matters. Every day.