How to start something new when you don't have time

This article is from my productivity series.

Starting a new thing is hard. Whether going to the gym, learning a musical instrument, or reading more books, we try hard to create the habit but keep putting it off. But there's a trick. Let me share two personal examples, one recent and one from several years ago.

I never find time to edit pictures. Last year I went on a solo trip to the Eastern Sierras, and for months the photos were just sitting on my hard drive. With so much going on, editing photos was not a priority. One day, a thought came to mind: I have piano class on Fridays at 4. What if I spend an hour editing right after piano class? I tried it, and for the past two months, I've edited photos every week without fail.

A photo I worked on recently, from the Eastern Sierras:

James Clear calls this habit stacking in his book Atomic Habits. The basic idea is to identify a habit you already do and then do the new thing right afterward. It works because you're piggybacking on a habit that your brain is already wired to do.

Here’s another example, and this one is more life-changing than editing photos. For a long time, I tried cultivating a running habit in the morning, but it never happened. I always went straight to work after waking up. One evening, I had parked my car in an office lot across my home, so I had to move it in the morning to avoid getting a ticket. After brushing my teeth, I rushed to my car and moved it to a different spot. And then I thought–the air is fresh–why not run a couple of rounds before heading home? I did, and it felt surprisingly good. Since then, I’ve started running daily after brushing my teeth.

Do the new thing right after something else you already do without fail:

A few tips:

‍Start really small. When I started running, I only did two laps daily, gradually increasing it to five. I edit photos for an hour each week, but I don't pressure myself to finish anything.

Make it easy to jump into the activity. I keep my track pants next to my bed the night before. It reduces friction in the morning and signals me to get moving. I've also programmed the thermostat, so it gets hot in the morning—forces me to get out of bed. (Mala hates me for it.)

Show up. Every time. Once, I was out jogging, and it started raining. I wanted to go back home. But I stopped myself and asked, what would Michael Jordan do? Would he miss his practice if it rained? Do I want to become the person who finds excuses, or do I want to become the person who shows up, rain or shine? Having the right mindset ensures the habit sticks. Some days it's cold, and I don't feel like going out running, but I've hardly missed a day in the last seven years.