We all have routines or habits that have become part of our daily lives. Some habits are healthy - like brushing your teeth when you wake up and before you go to bed. Others may be unhealthy - like checking your social media immediately after hitting the morning snooze button.
FM Alexander has a great quote that says “People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.”
Personally, I’ve developed a few habits that I feel have helped me to propel my career forward - like being diligent with daily client outreach and follow-ups. But I’ve also developed a few habits that sometimes hinder my ability to focus. That “checking social media first thing in the morning” example? It’s not just hypothetical - it’s a habit I’m actively trying to break in my own daily life.
Though our specific habits may be unique to each one of us, we all have them. So let’s take some time to think about our own habits - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Intro music: “Gingerly” (instrumental) by Surname. Mixed by yours truly.
Focus music by Pink Coyote
Outro music: “Futurism” (instrumental) by mrnoname. Produced and mixed by yours truly.
Welcome to Episode 1 of THANKS FOR THINKING, the music business podcast focused on self-reflection and proactivity for thoughtful music production professionals. I’m your host, Carl Bahner.
Today’s topic: Bad Habits.
We all have routines or habits that have become part of our daily lives.
Some habits are healthy - like brushing your teeth when you wake up and before you go to bed. Others may be unhealthy - like checking your social media immediately after hitting the morning snooze button.
FM Alexander has a great quote that says: “People do not decide their futures. They decide their habits, and their habits decide their futures.”
Personally, I’ve developed a few habits that I feel have helped me to propel my career forward - like being diligent with daily client outreach and follow-ups. But I’ve also developed a few habits that sometimes hinder my ability to focus. That “checking social media first thing in the morning” example? It’s not just hypothetical - it’s a habit I’m actively trying to break in my own daily life.
Though our specific habits may be unique to each one of us, we all have them. So let’s take some time to think about our own habits: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Today’s reflection question is: what are some bad habits I should actively break and some great habits I should actively encourage or develop?
Find a comfortable spot without distractions. I’d like you to spend the next few minutes thinking about your morning routines, the distractions you face throughout the day, and how some of these habits may be getting in the way of your larger goals in life. Don’t worry about setting a timer - when the music stops, we’ll move on to today’s action item.
So once again, today’s reflection question is: what are some bad habits I should actively break, and some great habits I should actively encourage or develop?
I’ll be back in a few minutes.
If you need more time, hit pause and come back when you’re ready. Otherwise, I hope you were able to find some insight into your own good and bad habits. Now, let’s take what we’ve discovered about ourselves and apply it.
Today’s action item is: pick one habit you want to break, one habit you want to develop, and write down some ways that you can change your actions and keep these habits top-of-mind as you go throughout your day.
Maybe placing some sticky note “reminders” around your workspace can help keep you accountable. Or, a screen time tracking app may be beneficial if the goal is to spend less time on social media. Maybe just scheduling a few ear breaks throughout the day will help you prevent burnout or ear fatigue.
The methods themselves will be unique to you and to the habits you’re trying to work on - but the important part is that you become (and remain) conscious of these habits as they pop up throughout the day.
Alright, time to get started. I’ll be back in a few minutes.
If you need more time, hit pause and come back when you’re ready.
Today is the first of many days on the path to changing these habits. According to a 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. I never said it would be quick or easy. However, if you choose to change a habit that would have a significant impact on your life and/or career, the results will easily justify your efforts.
Your persistence will pay off - and the best time to start is right now. Today is the day you begin deciding your habits so that your habits can decide your future.
I hope you learned something about yourself today. Maybe it was something small, or maybe it was a significant revelation. As far as I’m concerned, any growth in your self-awareness enhances both your business and your life.
If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share this with someone you feel would benefit from exercises like these. You can join our Discord Community using the link in the show notes, connect with me on social media at @carlbahner and @thanksforthinkingpodcast, or you can reach out directly to info@carlbahner.com
Until next time - Thanks for thinking.