I love the concept of leverage. The idea that there are tools, technologies and techniques that we can use to have a disproportion impact is really fascinating to me.
That’s part of the beauty of ideas, and paradigm shifts. A single idea can upset the entirety of societal order. A single paradigm shift can transform your view of the world.
On a smaller scale, that’s what you want when you’re looking for a keystone habit. It’s a habit that has a dis-propionate impact on the rest of your life. It’s a habit that will have ripple effect on what you do, how you do it, and who you are.
Keystones were the stones at the top of an arch of stone. It was the key stone that sat at the center of the arch. It was integral to the arch as a whole.
When adding a habit, you can add a simple habit, and the impact is proportionate. The habit of changing the oil in your car as recommended results in a car that lasts longer than one that isn’t serviced. One to one return.
But what we want is a habit that gives us much more than we put into it. A 10X to 100X return on time investment. For those habits we have to seek harder, and consider the impact. We are looking for potential chain reactions and potential non-direct returns.
For example, a daily walk might be a keystone habit. How it looks:
Daily Walk
Improved Health
Decreased Stress
Improved Interactions at Work
Increased Thoughtfulness
Improved Problem Solving
The result isn’t just that a daily walk gets you to your 10,000 steps and done. There are a lot more positive effects in your physical health, your energy levels, your mental health, your stress level, your thoughtfulness, both of which pour over into the other areas of your life. One keystone habit has a big impact, and what works for someone doesn’t necessarily work for everyone.
Other examples of keystone habits might be:
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Switching out a nightly glass of wine / beer for a soda water.
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Taking 30 minutes a day for prayer and Bible study.
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Using half of your lunch hour to study an interesting topic.
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Getting to work 20 minutes before you need to.
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Having lunch with a friend each week.
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Making a list of the things you’re thankful for.
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Calisthenics, yoga or lifting weights two or three times a week.
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Finding a mentor or coach.
I’d be interested in knowing what your keystone habits are. Drop me an email if you would like.