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her routine a little bit at a time, one day at a time, cutting out a small stressor here and adding in a more productive habit there. Our whole strategy was to make small, doable changes that would, over time, create an unstoppable momentum." Get big things done before 9 a.m. (instead of snoozing, procrastinating and lurking at the water cooler). Ever notice how your morning sets the tone for your whole day? As Sir Isaac Newton famously said, "Objects in motion tend to stay in motion." So if an object (you) gets a groggy, frustrating start, you'll probably feel sluggish and behind the eight-ball all day long. However, if you start your day with positive and productive ideas, actions, thoughts and feelings, you're likely to gain momentum throughout the day. DO first, then KNOW (not the other way around). Most people believe that the knowledge that something is important should make you want to do it. But in reality, that's not the case. If we know spending less time on Facebook will make us more productive, why won't we just commit to spending an hour less on the site each day? If we know setting aside 30 minutes to walk or jog each day will make us healthier, why aren't we jumping up off the couch right now? Own up to your junk hours. "Junk hours" are a little like junk food: While they provide short-term pleasure, they contribute to long-term imbalance and exhaustion. For instance, junk hours might include chasing rabbit trails on the Internet, shooting the breeze with colleagues at the water cooler, checking email in order to avoid doing other work, or even attending an unnecessary meeting. Instead of adding to your to-do list, build a new pattern. The changes that build momentum are rooted in decisions, not additional tasks. "To build a productive new pattern into your life, you usually won't have to add new tasks to your day," Core confirms. "Instead, you'll simply do what you are already doing, or want to do, in a way that becomes habitual. For instance, if you want to wake up an hour earlier so that you can jump-start the day, you simply have to change the time your alarm rings and the time you go to bed." Start with one thing. Then add another. Then another. Losing weight is one of the most commonly made New Year's resolutions. It's also one of the most commonly abandoned. Core says that's because people think of losing weight as a singular change. It's not. To lose weight, a person will need to eat healthier, eat smaller quantities, and become more physically active. That's three changes. "The point is, don't take on more than you can handle," Core says. "Break each goal down to its smallest components, then pick one of them to tackle. Pursue this change until it becomes a habit, then move on to the next one." Make a big-box checklist. It's a given that you have a to-do list. Maybe it's on paper, on your smartphone, or just in your head…but you have one. It's also highly likely that your list isn't as useful as it could be. Too often, you get stuck doing the urgent instead of the important. Core has a solution: Make an actual, on-paper checklist each afternoon for the following day or each morning. Put a box by each task — the more important that task is for you to complete that day, the bigger its box should be. Think about it so you don't have to think about it. We all have "those" tasks and obligations that eat up a lot of our time, that we find difficult and frustrating, or both. "Figure out where these areas are for you and commit to learning a new pattern," he urges. "Yes, learning new patterns can initially be tedious and laborious. But once they've taken hold — often in three weeks or less — they'll speed up your performance, streamline your effort and lower your stress." Infuse meaning into your work. Doing meaningful work does not mean that you will love every second of it. Meaning can simply be a recognition of what you enjoy about your work. With that understanding, you'll be more motivated, productive and satisfied. Core recommends completing the following exercise: • Focus on what gives you the greatest joy and meaning at work — be able to define it. STARRINKS.COM SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2014 / 25 , Continued on page 26