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Welcome to another edition of the 1% Habits Newsletter!

This is where you’ll get up-to-date information on small wins to improve your habits, productivity, and life satisfaction. 

Let’s get to it.

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📈 Struggling With Consistency? Try These 3 Steps

This email might feel a little meta, but stick with me. If you can take away the lessons I’ve learned from running THIS newsletter, I’m confident you can apply them to stay consistent with any important habit or project in your own life.

For years, I struggled with keeping up an email newsletter. Every year or so, I’d get inspired, write for a couple of weeks, and then—life would get busy. I’d feel overwhelmed, skip a week, and before I knew it, the newsletter was on indefinite hiatus. Sound familiar?

But for the past two-plus months, I’ve sent out an email every Monday and Thursday—without fail. Not only that, but I’ve built up a system and a backlog of ideas that make me genuinely confident I can keep this going for months (or even years). And, no, I didn’t suddenly become a productivity machine overnight. I just started following three simple steps.

Here’s how you can apply them to your own goals, whether you want to write a book, exercise regularly, launch a side hustle, or finally finish that big project you keep putting off.

Step #1: Understand the Power of the "Minimum Effective Dose" (MED)

This concept, popularized by Tim Ferriss, is about finding the smallest action that will still give you meaningful results. It’s not about doing the bare minimum out of laziness—it’s about stripping away the unnecessary so you can actually stick with it.

What does this look like in practice?

● Fitness: Instead of aiming for an hour at the gym, commit to 15 minutes of movement—maybe a brisk walk or a bodyweight circuit. It’s easier to start, and you’re much less likely to skip it.

● Writing: Rather than forcing yourself to write 2,000 words a day, set a goal of just 100 words. That’s a single paragraph. Once you start, you’ll often do more, but the pressure is off.

● Healthy eating: Instead of overhauling your entire diet, start by adding one serving of vegetables to your lunch each day.

How I used MED for this newsletter:

I used to overcomplicate things—writing multi-part email sequences, cramming in too many sections, and overwhelming myself with all the “extras” I thought I needed. Eventually, I realized that what readers found most valuable was simple: a featured article, a handful of helpful links, and a few recommendations. Only recently did I add a featured video section, and even then, I kept it straightforward.

Your takeaway: If you’re struggling with consistency, ask yourself: What’s the simplest version of this habit or project that will still move me forward? Start there. You can always add more later, but build the foundation first.

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Step #2: Plan in Advance

It sounds almost too simple, but it’s the difference between success and another abandoned project. For years, I’d try to write my newsletter on the same day I wanted to send it. If inspiration didn’t strike, I’d get frustrated, skip a day, and the momentum would vanish.

How I changed my approach:

Now, I plan my email schedule weeks ahead. For example, you’re reading this on July 3rd, but the topic and outline were mapped out in late June. This gives me a buffer for busy days, travel, or the inevitable “I don’t feel like it” moments.

How can you plan ahead for your goals? Here are some practical steps:

● Block time on your calendar: Schedule dedicated blocks for your habit or project, just like you would for meetings or appointments.

● Maintain a running ideas list: Use a notebook, a phone app, or a spreadsheet to jot down ideas as they come to you. Inspiration rarely strikes when you’re staring at a blank page.

● Batch tasks: If possible, do similar tasks together. For example, if you’re creating content, outline multiple pieces in one session or shoot several videos at once.

● Set reminders: Use your phone or a task manager to nudge you when it’s time to work on your habit.

● Review your plan weekly: Spend 10 minutes every Sunday reviewing what’s coming up and making tweaks as needed.

Real-life example: When I started planning my newsletter topics 2-3 weeks in advance, I removed the pressure of coming up with ideas on the fly. This made the process less stressful and more enjoyable—and I found myself actually looking forward to writing.

Step #3: Break It All Down

Big projects (or even seemingly “small” habits) feel overwhelming when you look at them as one giant task. The trick is to break everything down into bite-sized actions that you can tackle one at a time.

Here’s how I break down my newsletter process, managed in Todoist:

1. Keep a master email spreadsheet (linked as a recurring task in Todoist).

2. Add topic ideas to this spreadsheet whenever inspiration strikes.

3. Review and accept newsletter advisors (people who give feedback or help brainstorm).

4. Create an email content plan and schedule 2–3 weeks in advance.

5. Add interesting articles and resources to a shared “Newsletter Resources” document.

6. Write the featured article at least a week ahead of publication.

7. Identify and add the featured video for the day.

A few more examples in different contexts:

● Fitness: Break “get fit” into “plan workouts for the week,” “lay out gym clothes the night before,” “track workouts in an app,” etc.

● Writing a book: Break it into “outline chapters,” “write 200 words a day,” “edit one chapter per week,” “send draft to a friend for feedback.”

● Launching a side business: Break into “research competitors,” “set up website,” “create one product listing,” “reach out to first customers,” etc.

The more granular you get, the less intimidating each step feels. Plus, you get the satisfaction of checking things off and seeing progress.

Putting It All Together

I’m feeling pretty confident that I’ll keep this newsletter going for months to come. But the real test will be my three-week family trip to Canada in August. If you still get emails from me during that time, you’ll know this system works!

How You Can Apply This System—Starting Today

Ready to get consistent with your own habit or project? Here’s a simple action plan:

1. Define Your Minimum Effective Dose: What’s the smallest, most manageable version of your habit or project that will still move you forward? Commit to that.

2. Plan Ahead: Set aside time this week to brainstorm topics, tasks, or steps. Put them on your calendar. Keep a running list of ideas so you never start from zero.

3. Break It Down: List out every step, no matter how small. Put them in order. Use a tool (like Todoist, Notion, or a plain notebook) to track your progress.

4. Batch and Automate: Where possible, batch similar tasks together or set up reminders to take the mental load off.

5. Review and Adjust: At the end of each week, check in. What worked? What didn’t? Adjust your system as you go.

6. Celebrate Small Wins: Every time you follow through, acknowledge it. Consistency is built on momentum, not perfection.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need superhuman motivation or perfect circumstances to be consistent. You just need a system that makes it easy to show up—even on your busiest days. If I can finally make this newsletter a regular habit, I know you can do the same with whatever matters most to you.

What habit or project are you working on right now? Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear about it and cheer you on!

Talk soon,

Steve

📺 Today’s Featured Video

The featured video highlights five key lessons from the book Don’t Believe Everything You Think. The video explores how our thoughts can often create unnecessary barriers and self-doubt, especially when we’re trying to stick with new habits or projects. By learning to question negative thinking and let go of limiting beliefs, you can break the cycle of self-sabotage that so often derails consistency. If you’ve ever struggled to stay on track with your goals, these lessons are a powerful reminder that building consistency isn’t just about what you do—it’s also about how you think.

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